I call this piece
"Flamenco... Forever!"
It's lovely, Carmen.
I call mine "Meatloaf Monday".
Also lovely, in its own way.
Hey, can't argue
with comfort food.
Georgina?
What do we call
your masterpiece?
I call it,
"I'm in the middle
of a good book."
You're always
in the middle of a good book.
Well, that's not true!
Sometimes, I'm at the start
of a good book,
and, sometimes, I'm closer
to the end of a good book.
You know, as much as
we all love seeing you,
you could just sit in
a comfortable chair and read.
She can't!
She'd miss her time with us.
She's right.
I mean, what if
something exciting
happened in here,
and I missed it?
Nothing exciting
ever happens in here.
Excuse me.
Hi.
Sorry to interrupt.
Uh, I'm, uh,
I'm just looking to find Liz.
I'm supposed to meet her
in her office,
and, uh, I can't find it.
- I've been upstairs.
- Yeah.
That's because it's hidden.
No one can ever find her.
I think she likes it that way.
Um, I'm guessing you went
past the room with the piano?
- Twice.
- Yeah.
You-You have to cut
through that room,
and there is another door
in the back wall...
it's a secret portal
to her office.
I love a secret portal.
Will I need a password?
Uh, no...
but do consider leaving
a trail of breadcrumbs
to find your way back.
Got it.
Thanks.
Yeah.
Oh! Oh, wait!
What's your name?
I'm Will.
Hi, Will.
Her name's Tee.
She's... single!
Please ignore her.
Why do you need to see Liz?
Liz is looking to hire
a new handyman.
Oh! If you do get the gig,
do you promise to fix our fan?
You'll be my first priority.
Thank you.
Uh, good luck.
Hot!
Stop it, you two!
Well, I appreciate
the referral from John,
but he says you were, uh...
remodeling homes
from the ground up?
I was, yeah.
Well, we had
a good maintenance person,
but we lost her
because we couldn't keep her
full-time.
Ah. Well, that I understand.
Uh, just to be clear...
I'm new here, too.
I was hired three months ago
to try and turn
this place around,
so I want to be sure
you understand
this work is as-needed.
The truth is, I'm a dad.
I just moved to town.
You know, I need
a flexible schedule,
and, well,
this really would be perfect.
Okay. All right, Will.
Let's do this. All right?
Let me show you
where the maintenance room is.
- Sounds good.
- There's a list of projects!
Okay. That is it for today.
Great job, everyone!
Let's get moving,
because I promised Theo
I'd be back to the shop
on time, for once.
Ooh, does he have a hot date?
Um, probably, but we have
a strict cousins policy...
no meddling
in each other's dating lives.
Doubt that's a promise
he'll be keepin'!
Yeah, probably not.
All right, bye, guys!
That means you too, Georgina.
Keep it moving!
Do not get me
in trouble with Theo.
- All right!
- Bye!
- Okay, bye.
- Bye!
"To do..."
Ahem.
"Organize utility closet."
"Fix fan in the pottery room."
Well...
- Well?
- Hmm?
Are we open
to going out tonight?
Mm, I don't know.
I don't feel ready!
Couldn't make
anything decent today.
You worry too much.
It'll be fun.
What's wrong?
Your daughter's being difficult!
Well, that's nothing new.
Mom!
You know the new Madrona Gallery
that opened up
in the neighborhood?
Well, they're having
an open house tonight,
and through my vast network
and, of course,
unparalleled charm,
I secured us an invitation,
so that Tee
can corner the owner
and convince him
to showcase her pottery.
Well, that's exciting!
And yet...
you don't seem excited.
I have to get out of my own way.
You've always
struggled with this,
and I don't think...
- "He who shall not be named"?
Yes, him.
I don't think he helped.
But, on your birthday,
you told me this was your year.
"The year of New Tee!"
The year you were going to make
your dreams come true!
Well, in my defense,
I was two Mai Tais deep
when I said that,
but I know...
I need to believe in myself.
You are ready!
Okay, I am ready.
Yes! "Year of New Tee!"
Whoo! Let's do it.
- Finally!
- Yeah.
Although, I can't go,
dressed like this.
Come on.
- Well...
- Okay, you're right.
Have fun, you two.
I'll lock up here when I'm done.
What do you mean,
when you're done?
Mom, do not
rearrange the store again!
I wouldn't dream of it.
Yes, you would.
Goodnight.
Hey!
Somebody left their phone
in the pottery room.
Do you know
if there's a lost-and-found?
Let me see.
Oh, that's Tee's,
but she's gone for the day.
Well, I don't
want to leave it in there.
Uh, I'll take it to Liz.
- Thank you.
- Uh-uh! Liz is in a meeting.
Oh.
You know...
Tee's shop is just
a little ways down Main Street...
"the Retro Metro".
Well...
I would do it,
but, um, I'm at the end
of a good book.
- I'll see what I can do.
- Okay.
One Cosmo.
Drink up.
A Cosmo? Is this 2003?
Early-millennium
is back in fashion.
You know that.
- You're right.
- Okay.
So, my sources tell me
you want to talk to Ken...
- "Ken".
- Who is that guy, there.
Which one?
Blue suit.
Blue suit, blue suit...
okay, yeah.
He looks...
He looks nice, right?
I can talk to him.
It's not scary.
- Yeah.
- And you're gonna be with me
every step of the way, so...
I believe in you.
What? Theo? No, Theo!
Okay, okay, okay.
Oh!
Hi, there.
Sorry to bother you.
I'm Will from the Learning Tree.
Tee forgot her phone there,
so I just wanted to come by
and drop it off.
You're very kind.
I'm her mom, Leigh Anne.
It's very nice to meet you,
Leigh Anne.
Is Tee here?
Or maybe
I-I can leave it with you?
She went to a reception
up at the Madrona Gallery,
at the other end of Main Street.
She's gonna need her phone
to show off her pottery.
Right, so I-I should go...
to the Madrona Gallery?
Yes!
- At the end of Main Street.
- Yes, very close!
You can't miss it.
Okay. All right, will do.
Thank you.
- Thank you!
- Okay.
Hi, sorry.
I need to borrow my cousin.
Okay, we are gonna do this
before I wimp out...
Uh-huh.
And I need you here with me
for moral support.
- Roger that. Let's go.
- Okay.
Oh, no...
What now?
I forgot my phone!
I need it to show him
the pictures of my pottery.
I have to go back,
and I have to go get it.
I have your pictures.
You do?
Of course!
You sent them to me.
Aw, you kept them?
- Sure!
- Aw.
Only 'cause I'm too lazy
to delete them.
- There it is.
- There what is?
"New Tee" wouldn't
forget her phone.
Yes, she would!
She just wouldn't use it
to justify her insecurities.
Hey, stuff happens.
You're up.
Hello! Welcome to Madrona.
Hi. I'm Tee Collins,
and this is my cousin Theo.
Uh, we own the Retro Metro
down the street,
and, um...
welcome to the neighborhood.
Thank you.
Uh, I've seen your shop,
but I haven't had
a chance to stop by yet.
Oh, no, that's okay.
I'm sure you're so busy,
you know, with, um...
stuff.
- "Stuff."
We won't take up
much of your time,
but Tee here is an artist.
Yes! Um... Photos?
Right.
He's got pics for you,
but, um, pottery...
um, cups, bowls,
tortilla warmers, um...
a-a garden gnome.
I don't really talk about him.
I mean, who among us
hasn't had a gnome, right?
Right.
Well, you, uh...
have talent.
Thank you!
But...
Uh-oh.
If I'm being honest...
your work lacks complexity.
I can't look at it
and know anything about you.
You're making pretty things,
not revealing yourself
to your audience.
Y-You know...
Tee has actually been working on
some really
interesting new stuff.
The new...
the new stuff...
- Yeah.
- I...
Yes, it's, um...
a bunch of new things.
Okay, look.
I have another show
coming up in a few weeks,
and I'm reviewing submissions.
If you can show me
something before the show
that I can respond to,
I might be able
to squeeze you in,
but give me something
I've not seen before...
something
that's about Tee, okay?
Okay.
Excuse me.
It was nice meeting both of you.
Yeah, thank you.
Okay, you know what?
Mm... It's okay. It's okay.
Um, I think I'm just
gonna get my coat and go.
Okay, I'll come with.
No, no. Stay, schmooze.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Fancy seeing you here.
It's you.
"Will."
Will!
And I come bearing a gift.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
I just hate when people tell me
to put myself into something.
I mean,
what does that even mean?
Well...
what it means is who are you?
I don't know, I'm just me.
Okay, well,
toss some things out there!
You know,
tell me about yourself.
Okay.
Um, well,
I'm-I'm Chinese-American.
Mm-hmm.
I've lived here forever,
except for four
very memorable years in Seattle
for college.
Okay, if you can remember them,
then I hate to break it to you,
but they were not
that memorable.
That's a good point. Yeah.
What else?
You're an artist.
I want to be.
Do you make art?
Yeah.
Well, then...
you're an artist!
That's how it works.
Hmm.
You're also a teacher.
- Mm-hmm.
- What else?
Uh, you love ice cream.
How'd you know that?
Oh, I saw the longing
and the passion in those eyes
when we walked past
the ice cream shop.
Oh, I hate being obvious!
This is me.
Uh, okay.
Well... what else?
Um, you're a businesswoman!
I am.
Okay, okay,
you're on a roll here.
Do you dance?
Uh, alone in the house.
- Do you sing?
- Alone in the car.
You dating anyone?
Uh... I was, for a long time,
but it didn't stick.
I tried online dating
for a while.
That didn't stick, either.
Um, well, thank you
for walking me back,
and pondering the universe
with me,
and for my phone.
Anytime.
I'll see you around
the community center, Tee.
Wait!
Who are you, Will?
Me?
- Yeah.
- No, no.
Not fair.
Come on! I mean, if you had
to answer that question,
what would you say?
I'd say that, today,
I met some really nice people,
and I got to return a phone
to its rightful owner.
I got to take a stroll
down Main Street
with an artist wearin' the heck
out of a red dress.
So... me? I don't know.
I'm just a guy
having a real great day.
Then he walked me to my car...
and that's it.
He seems like a nice man!
He is.
Ken, the-the gallery owner,
he wants me
to put myself into my art...
but I only really know
half of me.
I know it was hard for you,
living here,
especially after Dad passed,
but you almost never
talk about China.
I wanted your life
to be easier than mine.
That didn't seem possible
with one foot here
and one foot there...
but maybe I went too far.
What do you mean?
Maybe I should have taught you
more about your ancestors.
I tried to send you
to language school.
But I kept coming down with
rare and undefined illnesses.
Every Saturday morning!
It was a medical mystery.
Well, in my defense,
Mandarin is really hard!
I came here in college
and never went back.
This old pot
is all I have from my hometown.
Yeah, I've seen this pot
a thousand times,
and I've never even
thought about it.
It was my grandmother's.
She grew up in Yixing City.
Her father was a craftsman,
and he made it for her
when she got married.
Wow...
my great-great grandfather
made this.
When I married your father,
my grandmother mailed it to me.
Can you tell me more
about my family in China?
Is anybody else still there?
My cousin Xi.
We were best friends as girls,
but, when I left...
well, it wasn't like
we could call each other up.
Well, tell me about her.
What's she like?
Let me make more tea.
"Will's Works."
General contractor...
uh...
champion of honey-do lists.
Yeah.
I think that's done.
Okay, what's next?
Yes, business cards!
Okay. Business cards...
Tee?
Tee?
Mm, go away!
Are you ill?
No.
Injured?
No.
Did you run away
during the night to Vegas,
where you married Pedro Pascal
in a ceremony performed
by an Elvis impersonator?
That's oddly specific...
and I'm open to it, but no.
Okay...
real talk?
Real talk.
I may have found that thing
I've been looking for...
the piece of me
that's been missing.
It's amazing.
All right, well...
take all the time you need.
We're real slow this morning.
Okay, thanks.
It's called "Yixing pottery,"
and they've been making it
in my mom's town since forever.
Well, "forever"
by American time,
a few centuries by Chinese time.
Anyway, most of it is simple
and elegant...
formal, even.
Oh! And here's something cool.
Because of its absorbency,
some families
have different pots
for different types of tea,
so the flavors
don't get confused.
That is fun.
If I see any,
I will grab them for the shop.
Where did you find these hats?
A vintage hat shop
in San Francisco.
They were closing their doors
for good,
so I got in there.
Mm! I swear,
working here is like Christmas.
These are amazing.
Oh, wait'll you see
the steamer trunks I found.
They're coming in next week.
{Tee] Did you see that my mom
reorganized the jewelry?
I did.
I want to be mad at her, but...
It's better
than the way we had it.
Exactly.
I hate when she does that.
Okay.
Okay! This is the one.
- Okay!
- Mm.
So, um...
who is this gentleman
who walked you back last night?
I don't know what you mean.
Uh-huh!
Well, I think
that should fix the leak.
Mm.
Thank you for returning
Tee's phone to her.
My pleasure.
Harry, would you mind
passing me that rag?
Oh. Yeah, here.
Thank you.
I can't believe
Tee's still single.
I know.
She's good people...
and so creative!
You know, I almost feel like
you're all trying
to tell me something.
Hi! Did you find
everything you need?
I think so.
You have
so much good stuff here.
This store's great.
I'm gonna bring
all my friends here.
Thank you!
My daughter is a fan of vintage.
I just wish I had kept
all my parents' old LPs.
Right? If only we'd known!
Well, we get new things in
every day,
so please keep coming back,
'cause you never know
what you're gonna find.
Deal! I really like your hat.
Thank you.
We had a big box of hats
come in today.
This one's my favorite.
Do you have
any more like that one?
Sorry, no.
Pretty much everything
in the store is one-of-a-kind.
That's okay. That's what
makes the store so cool.
It's yours.
Really?
Really!
No, on the house. Enjoy.
Thank you so much!
Thank you.
Of course.
Oh! Will, hi!
Hi.
Um, you know what?
Can I borrow you for a sec?
Something's going on
in the pottery studio.
Uh, yeah. Yeah, sure.
- Yeah? Thanks.
- Here.
Of course.
All right,
what seems to be the issue?
Well, look at this...
somebody broke
into the pottery studio
while I was gone,
and fixed the fan.
- I see.
- Mm-hmm.
And did they leave
any sort of evidence behind?
Oh, just this note...
it's very cryptic.
Mm.
I don't really know
how to tell you this...
but...
there might be more.
There's more?
You know that drip
under the kitchen sink?
The one
with the bucket underneath,
to catch all the water?
The one that
we keep taking turns emptying?
- Yes, that drip?
- That's the one.
Rumor has it
that that's been fixed, too.
No!
That's crazy talk!
I know.
You do not know how long
this fan has been broken.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Tee, I'm glad you're here.
I need to talk to you.
- Well, I'll see you both later.
- Yeah.
Actually, Will,
you're part of the family now.
You might as well stick around.
This affects you, too.
- What's going on?
- As you know,
I was hired
to turn this place around,
and I have cut
everything I know how to cut,
but we're still so far behind,
and the Learning Tree
is officially
on the chopping block.
"The chopping block"?
Really?
And I just got here.
I know.
I'm sorry about that.
I'm not giving up yet,
but we need to be realistic
at the same time.
I was really
starting to like this place,
and I want
to remind the community
that this center
belongs to them,
but I haven't
figured out how yet.
How about the suggestion box?
Anything good in there?
Uh, yeah,
I have them right here.
"More dance classes
and a dance-a-thon."
Carmen.
"The Great
Learning Tree Cook-Off."
Harry.
"A used bookstore."
Georgina.
There's more...
they're all sweet ideas,
and I'd love to explore them,
but unlikely to help
or convince the city
that we matter.
I'm sorry, Will.
I won't be able
to give you many hours.
Uh... here's the thing.
I just started
my own contracting
and handyman business.
I would be happy
to stick around here
and help for free,
and, maybe, if you're happy
with the help I provide,
you might consider
giving my business
a positive review online.
Yes, of course!
I'd be happy to.
I'll-I'll do it today.
Thank you, Will!
- Thank you.
- That's very generous.
Oh, and please don't
tell our members
about all this.
I don't want
to upset anyone just yet.
Yeah.
I'll-I'll tell my cousin
about your business.
He knows, like,
everybody in town.
Thank you.
I appreciate that.
Yeah.
Things will turn around, right?
Maybe.
Um... I don't know.
This place means a lot
to a lot of people,
and selfishly,
I need access to that kiln.
So...
Dad! I found you!
There you are.
Come here. How are you?
This place is awesome.
I can't believe you work here.
I know, right?
Hi.
Do you remember me?
Yeah, of course!
Uh, you and your mom were...
in my shop today.
- Really?
- Mm-hmm.
Well, did you know,
in addition to her store,
Tee, here, is also the head
of the pottery program?
Pottery?
This place has everything.
Oh, all right...
and she's gone again.
Oh, I am running out of time.
Sorry!
So, uh...
when you were telling me
who you were,
you left out the part
about you being married.
Negative. Not married.
Can I stay for pottery class?
Oh, not today.
I'm sorry, we don't have time.
Okay. Bye, Tee!
Thanks again for the hat.
Yeah, of course. Bye.
Take care.
Bye.
Just down the hall...
let's make a right.
What we need is press.
People pay attention
when there's a story.
Or...
we start a rumor
that Oprah took a class here.
Oh...
I did that for
my cousin's food truck once.
It worked like a charm!
How do you guys know
about this already?
Oh, everybody knows.
You can't keep secrets
in this place.
Well, I don't have
any good solutions.
I wish I did.
You know...
places like this
just don't disappear overnight.
They disappear
when folks stop believing
they matter.
You know?
This place is so cool!
Ooh, that one's sharp.
And it's all yours?
I wish.
No, only when I do jobs here.
Speaking of which...
do you remember
when we talked about me
opening up my own business?
Well...
um...
I finally did it.
I got my license yesterday,
and...
drumroll, please?
May I present to you...
my rudimentary,
yet fully-functioning website?
Dad! That's so cool.
Hey, especially with
your mom's new job right now,
you, uh, you might have
to spend some extra time
here with me, after school.
As long as we can, anyways.
Would that be all right?
Sure. I'd love that.
Okay.
Wait.
What do you mean,
"as long as we can"?
Well, the center's having
some money troubles,
but they're trying
to work through it.
Is that what
you were talking about with Tee?
Yeah. She loves it here.
Let's get you to practice.
After you.
Thank you!
Tee...
are you okay over there?
Yeah, sure. Why?
You've been throwing
that same lump for 20 minutes.
You, uh, sure you're not trying
to hypnotize the thing?
Yeah, just, uh, lost in thought.
That guy Ken,
from the new gallery,
he has a big show coming up,
and I know that I should
stick to my pottery, but...
this Yixing pottery
is whispering in my ear.
Mm, sometimes,
a whisper's all you need
to feel something.
That's how we started...
with just a whisper.
I thought you two met
in a donut shop.
We did.
I was waiting
for my chocolate-glazed,
and he whispered in my ear...
"Pretty women
don't pay for chocolate."
Smooth, Harry!
But my point is,
you never know
what, or who,
will whisper in your ear,
so you have to listen hard...
because, sometimes,
it's the best thing
that ever happened to you.
So this guy walked you
back to your car...
Yes.
And talked you off the ledge
after the whole Ken incident...
- He did.
- And then fixed your fan?
Right?
Yeah, I totally see
why you're mad at him.
I'm not mad at him,
but he never told me
he was a dad.
At any point in the 20 minutes
you spent together,
was his status as a dad relevant
to the conversation
you were having?
No.
But he didn't even
give off "dad" vibes.
I'm sorry, Mr. Fix-It
didn't seem like a dad?
Really?
That's what you're going with?
I don't have time
for this, okay?
I have to focus on my pottery,
help save the Learning Tree,
and, in my spare time,
run the shop.
Uh, pass me that blue pillow?
I thought
this was "new, confident Tee".
Old Tee
was getting kind of spinstery.
You know, back when
that term was invented,
"spinster"
was a respected position.
Yeah. It meant that women
could make their own money
outside of male-dominated
institutions.
Yes, fight the system,
but maybe let someone
help you while you do it.
Okay. Serious question.
Yeah?
- This guy...
- Yeah?
Is he about yea-high,
brown hair,
well-manicured beard?
Yeah, how'd you know?
He's looking in the window
at you.
Wh...?
I was expecting Tim Allen from
the Home Improvement days.
Will you shush?
Absolutely not!
I can't believe
I let you talk me into ice cream
before dinner.
Mm.
No offense, but...
I thought
it was gonna be a harder sell.
You know what?
Being an adult is hard,
but there are some perks.
We were married...
pretty much long enough
to have Natalie.
Mm.
Jane was always
more professionally determined
than me.
Yeah, she'd reach a goal,
and then she'd set another one
even farther away.
And you're not that way?
No, bro.
I am chill.
Super-chill.
As long as my bills are paid,
I'm a happy man.
No, there's obviously
ups and downs...
but I really like my life,
and I like
that I get to be protective
over who I let into it.
After you.
Thank you.
So...
ahem, a few weeks ago...
Jane reached another goal,
and, uh, she got her dream job,
so I moved to town,
lucky enough to find a spot
near Natalie's school.
So, you moved to town,
took primary custody
of your daughter,
and went into business
for yourself?
That doesn't sound so chill.
Well, I know...
that, whatever happens,
I can figure it out,
so, to me, it is.
Wow.
If I could bottle
that confidence, contentment...
whatever it is...
I would order a lifetime supply.
I think you can.
It's just about choosing
what's important.
You know?
I love being an all-in dad.
Yeah, I get that.
You know, I never had to wonder
if my mom was gonna show up,
because she brought posters
and balloons,
and she was hard to miss.
When'd she come here?
In college.
It was part of
an exchange program.
Met my dad.
He was a rosy-cheeked
Midwestern boy...
and she couldn't resist.
- Leigh Anne!
- Yeah.
Yeah, he passed
when I was little,
and she's been handling it
all on her own ever since.
I'm sorry.
That must have been hard.
Yeah.
Hey, what's your mom's
given name?
"Lin."
So she just used
the Americanized version.
It, uh, it means "lotus flower".
And how about you?
Is "Tee" your given name?
No. No, it's, uh... "Ting".
But I never... I never use it.
I'm always just Tee.
Well, what does "Ting" mean?
"Graceful."
So, a misnomer on occasion.
Like this morning,
when I tripped over
literally nothing on the floor.
Well, tripping aside,
I think
Ting is very pretty name.
Thank you.
So I asked my friends at school
about Learning Tree,
and why they don't go there.
Oh, yeah?
What did they say?
They said it was for, like,
retired people...
I guess
because of the way it looks.
Well, I mean,
it does look kind of old.
They were like,
"I forgot
that place was even there."
Here.
Could you open that up?
I already
took the old cover off.
So, uh, how you feeling
about living here?
You know,
it's been three weeks now.
Are you still okay,
spending more time
with your old, decrepit man
of a dad?
So far, so good.
Did you see the signs
for the market tonight?
I did.
Can I go?
Some of my friends are going.
I could walk up with them.
Ah.
Well, how about...
we... walk there together,
and then you can ditch me,
you can go hang out
with your friends,
and then we can walk back home
together after?
Deal!
Deal.
I want to put it on myself.
Be my guest.
Here you are.
It's time I graduated.
You wanna use Big Freddy?
Okay.
Okay, but...
there is a tradition.
This has been passed along
from parent to child,
for... generations.
What is it?
When you pick this up,
you must...
Okay.
Go ahead. Give it a whirl.
The torch has been passed!
You're so weird.
Let's give it a try.
Come on.
Wow, the tooth grip?
All right,
you've been studying, I see.
There you go.
Yeah, yeah, yeah!
Yeah, you got it.
So I got some clay
in different colors.
It feels earthy, different...
but feels right.
Are you gonna... make pots?
Is this something that you could
take to Ken for his exhibit?
I won't be good enough by then.
Maybe
Old, Insecure Tee wouldn't,
but New Tee would.
You know, maybe it's time
to ease up
on the Old Tee/New Tee thing.
Sure, take away my fun!
But you know I'm right.
Oh, um, by the way,
I'm gonna send you a website.
Can you spread the word
amongst your vast and varied
friend group?
This is Home Improvement Man?
- Yes.
- And we have
forgiven him
for having been married once?
Yes. He got me ice cream.
Oh, yeah, that'll do it.
Oh, there they are!
Sorry, we can't stop.
I'm hungry.
I love these. Harry, look.
Yes, very nice.
You know what else is nice?
Hmm?
The tikka masala
at Curry in a Hurry.
Now come on!
Mm-hmm. They're adorable.
So, um, can I get you anything?
Tee, if you wanna go
grab a bite, I'm fine here.
Oh, I know what's going on here.
You want me to go now,
so you can leave early.
I don't know what you mean.
- You're such a lightweight.
- It's true...
the day I turned 30 was the day
I lost the ability to stay awake
past 9:30.
Wait'll you turn 60, son.
You get all kinds of surprises
happening then.
Don't scare the boy, Harry.
Well, hello!
Is this, uh, table taken?
It is now.
Come on. Join us.
Hi, sweetheart. Hi.
Hello.
So, what did we all have?
We've had burgers and boba...
dinner of champions.
Mm. Nice.
There's my friends.
Can I ditch you now?
Ditch away.
Just don't go too far.
I should go see
if Harry needs any help
carrying all the food back.
Ah. Right.
Ahem. I, um, I see...
what they did there.
Yeah. Subtle.
- Yeah.
- Real subtle.
Might actually even be awkward
if I didn't already
have a mini-crush on you.
A crush?
Mm-hmm.
Do people still get crushes?
I believe they do.
I think I'm living proof.
Hmm. A proper crush?
Just a mini one, though.
Don't get carried away on me.
Right, right.
- Okay, serious question.
- Uh-huh.
What is the secret gem
of this market?
Oh, well, besides my shop?
Yes, besides your shop.
The ube flan cake.
Phenomenal. 100%.
The little burnt bits...
Ooh...
Okay, well,
I should head back to Theo
before he turns into a pumpkin.
Understood.
Hey, before you go...
I wanted to bring something up
about the Learning Tree.
Natalie did
a little bit of recon
at her middle school,
and it turns out
the general feeling there,
towards the Learning Tree,
is not exactly...
mm, whatever the word for "cool"
is these days.
Really?
Yeah, the term "boring"
was floated.
We're not boring!
See, I know this,
you know this...
Yeah.
But maybe the center needs
a facelift or something.
And some serious PR.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
Who needs CPR?
Um, I have to head back to Theo,
but will you tell 'em
what you told me?
- I will.
- Harry, I know you will not
let me pay you back,
so thank you.
Now, tell us about the PR.
Too young.
Hello!
Hi.
What's this?
It's ube flan cake, isn't it?
Maybe.
With the burned bits!
You made my night.
Thank you.
I'm off to meet Natalie.
See you tomorrow?
Yeah.
Good news...
it was just your pilot light.
I relit it,
and you will magically
have hot water again
in about an hour.
Thank you!
You know, halfway through
my cold shower this morning,
my mind immediately
went to doomsday scenarios.
You know, I have
a recurring nightmare
where all my appliances,
they come alive,
and they just rally against me.
Yeah.
Well, at least you have
a reliable handyman
you can now call, any time.
That's true.
That looks quite delicious.
This is my breakfast casserole,
and, halfway through
my cold shower,
I promised myself,
if I survived, I would make it.
Do you want some?
I would very much like some.
Thank you for offering.
Okay.
Once it cools off,
I'll cut you a slice.
By the way...
how am I paying you?
In money, or store credit
for your daughter?
Neither.
I relit your pilot light.
I mean, it took me longer
to find my shoes this morning.
Well, I don't feel right
about that.
Well, you don't know
about the four jobs
I have lined up,
thanks to your cousin
putting the word out.
However...
if you, uh...
if you really feel
indebted still,
you could
pay me back
by joining me for dinner?
I would love that.
I was actually gonna ask you
if you and Natalie wanted
to come to my family's
traditional monthly dim sum.
- Is that right?
- Mm-hmm.
Well, why don't we do both?
Deal.
So I heard from our friends
at the community center,
you've been firing
some new pots.
These them?
Yes. These are Yixing pots.
Can you show me
how you make one?
Are you sure?
I mean, it's just,
I don't know if it's gonna be...
I'd love to see.
Okay.
I've really been
going down the rabbit hole,
learning about this...
ever since I learned
about my family's involvement
in China...
and this...
is zisha clay,
and it comes in
three basic colors...
purple, red, and tan...
but, depending on
the iron levels,
the colors
don't always come out.
Like, this tan could end up
being a really pretty green.
It's all really complicated.
It's like you've just taken mud,
and you've transformed it
into something elegant.
It's all about
patience and precision.
It feels like
meditating with my hands...
like it was
a part of me all along,
but I never
noticed it whispering.
Do you want to know
what might be the coolest thing
about these pots?
Tell me.
Because the clay is porous,
it absorbs the aroma
and flavor of your tea,
so, over time,
it-it learns your tea,
and each brew
gets better and better.
It's like the teapot
has a memory.
I mean, my mom's teapot
can remember
my grandmother's tea.
And it takes a really long time
to master this design.
I've barely
scratched the surface,
and I have a long way to go
before I can show anybody.
What?
I just...
I think I like this one.
My clay-tastrophy?
Yeah, I thought
I was patching with
the same shade and texture,
and, well, it's a shame,
because
I kind of nailed the shape.
Well, I like it.
It just shows
that you can be
made from different things
and still be beautiful.
But it was a mistake.
Was it?
I think uniformity is overrated.
Besides, aren't you supposed
to know the rules and break it,
or something like that?
Isn't that part
of being an artist?
Mm. Uh-oh.
What?
Well, it's Liz, and I think
we created a monster.
Our presence is requested.
Now?
She used all-caps.
There's no point
doing any of this
if we don't
upgrade the electrical!
Okay! Okay, they're here.
They're here.
All right, you want to tell me
what's going on here?
This has something
to do with Natalie?
My daughter was talking
to some of her friends...
Yes, yes,
we're boring to young people...
I've heard this.
But that's not all!
We asked people our age,
and heard the same thing.
They have no idea
what we do here.
Maybe we need to rebrand...
something like,
"Keep the Tree alive."
"Spruce it up."
I saw what you did there.
And then have a big open house.
With dancing!
Do you all realize
we're about
to lose the center for good?
I'm all for rebranding,
but it isn't free,
and... I'm not sure
we should spend
what little money we have left
on this.
Respectfully,
I think this is exactly
where money should be spent,
and a lot can go a long way.
Yeah, recycle and reuse.
I'm sure nearly everybody
has something special
in their house
they're willing to donate.
Yes, but we don't want
to just fill the place
with a bunch of stuff.
No, but Tee could curate it all.
She's got a great sense
for detail, design, color.
It's true!
Look, Liz, we appreciate
what you're doing here,
but maybe the answer
isn't more cuts.
Maybe we should focus
on-on what we can build.
Each new program,
each new person,
brings in money.
Let's give the community
what they want.
Look, if
we're gonna lose this place,
I'd rather go down fighting
than standing around,
wondering if there was anything
we didn't think to try.
I'm with Harry.
Yeah. No?
Yeah.
- Okay. Okay.
- Exactly.
- Yup. Let's do it!
- Yes! Yes!
Let's do this.
Okay. Now, give me a list.
- I've got some great ideas.
- Flamenco. I'll volunteer.
Well, this is therapeutic!
Fresh start always feels good.
Excuse us.
Coming through!
- Okay, to the left...
- To the left!
Yes.
We've got so many little
kid books and, uh, Y.A. books.
- Look at all these!
- Excellent.
How did you get so many?
We asked the high-schoolers
to look through their old books,
and they came through.
Yeah!
Okay. This here.
- Perfect.
- Looking good!
Is it straight?
Ah... I think so?
Look at the top.
- This look good?
- Yeah, it's good.
Now, you can defer this,
and that will lower
your monthly costs.
It's not much, but...
Every penny helps.
Now, let's look at
tangible costs here...
Hey! You guys
should come see this.
Oh, hey, no, you guys go ahead.
I'm just going to dig into this
a little more.
Okay.
Well, what do you think?
I stand corrected.
This is lovely!
We should make this
one of the focal rooms
of the open house.
I've lived here my whole life,
and I never knew
that just anybody
could rent this room.
We should let people know
that, if they want it,
we can make it happen here.
Yeah.
Scout meetings.
Dance practice!
Language classes.
Book clubs.
Uh, more after-school stuff
for kids?
Mm-hmm.
D-I-Y skills, photography...
it's endless!
Hey, don't forget about karaoke.
Oh! Are you a singer, too?
Uh, yes.
Everyone loves my karaoke.
Mm, that's not
what Natalie says.
Natalie loves my singing!
If anything,
she's just too shy to admit it.
Oh.
We need to talk about food
for the open house.
I'm thinking just snacks, right?
That sounds good.
I can bring lots of coffee
and soft drinks.
I can make my maple-pecan chews.
Mm! I'll bring my world-famous
lavender lemonade.
Natalie and I, we can make
something with chocolate.
I'll need to taste-test
all of those things...
so, please bring them
to my office tomorrow morning.
I can come up with something.
Maybe apple crisp?
My mom makes
these traditional egg tarts.
Yes!
Perfect.
That all sounds delicious.
I wanted him
to think I could be American,
but I missed
that the noodles
had to be cooked
before you put
them in the lasagna.
The sweet man ate it anyway!
Thank you.
Hey, things happen.
You know, the first time
that I had dim sum,
I, uh, I thought
you were supposed
to eat the lettuce leaves.
No!
{Will] I did.
Mm! Natalie, you're doing well
with your chopsticks.
Thank you! I think
I'm getting the hang of it.
Yeah. Oh!
Or not.
Natalie...
you'll get it!
Hey!
Excellent execution.
Hey, Theo?
Thanks for spreading the word
about my business, by the way.
Your friends are covering
my bills this month.
Happy to help.
Theo, do you know anybody
on the City Council?
Uh, not directly,
but I could ask around.
Is this
for the community center?
Yeah. Maybe we can find
a connection to one of them.
Sure.
It's "Phoenix claws"...
delicious!
Chicken feet.
Here.
Okay... I'll try one.
Go for it, Natalie!
Get in there.
Yeah!
- Yeah!
- Yeah!
So, Leigh Anne,
what do you think
about Tee's new Yixing pots?
{Tee] I have a long way to go.
These are just ideas.
I'm still exploring
where the clay takes me.
You're a natural.
You have your...
talent.
I was afraid you'd think
I was being silly.
Never.
They are you.
There's more I have to tell you.
I... I think
I may have found
your cousin, Xi.
What do you mean?
I've been searching online.
She's a university professor
in Beijing.
Is it her?
I missed that smile.
Well, Mama,
her email's right there.
You could reach out.
I am hoping she's doing well.
I've been thinking about her
so much lately...
but we parted badly.
She didn't want me to stay here.
It was harder back then
to talk, even...
and we never made up.
That was a long time ago.
What if she still
thinks about you?
You're her cousin.
I don't know what my life
would be like without Theo.
Mom, what if she's been
looking for you, too,
but searching for "Lin"?
Well, I think
we're ready for the open house.
Yeah, I think so,
but who knows what will happen
at the City Council meeting?
Uh, I don't know...
but this place looks great.
Yeah. I'm really proud
of everybody for pitching in.
Me too.
Hey, see you later?
Yeah.
{Tee] I don't know
where we're going.
"Dinner," that's the extent
of my knowledge,
so find me
something timeless to wear.
So let me get this straight...
this guy fixed
your water heater,
has been working,
basically, for free
at the Learning Center,
and he came to dim sum
with your family,
and now he wants to
take you out to thank you?
Yup.
Marry this man immediately.
Ken is here!
- Great.
- Help him!
- You help him. You do it.
- You do it!
Theo? Theo! Theo!
Hey.
- Tee can help you.
- Thanks.
Hi!
Ken, welcome.
Nice to see you again.
Yeah, you too.
Um, can I help you
find something?
Yes. I was looking
for a garden gnome.
Because of the-the...
Uh...
you know, we're all out.
Gnomes just keep flying off
the shelf around here.
Honestly, I was walking by
and wanted to check in.
You were gonna bring me
something before the show.
Is that still happening?
Uh...
Y... Yes.
Yes, sure. Of course.
Great! Great.
I'll need to see it
by Thursday at 8:00 P.M.
I will be there.
- I'll see you there.
- Okay.
Thanks.
That went well.
Yeah, that was actually
really nice.
So what are you
gonna do about it?
He thinks I have talent.
You do.
But, first...
you have a very important
decision to make.
Are you thinking...
hopelessly-devoted-to-you Sandy,
or you're-the-one-
that-I-want Sandy?
Neither.
I think you'd look
really good in the leather?
And he wanted
to keep trying, you know,
go to counseling,
really put the work in, but...
he didn't want to do any of that
until after I'd already left,
and, by then,
I just didn't
feel anything anymore.
It just was sort of over for me.
My dad told me once
that, if you make a mistake,
and your wife is, you know,
mad at you or yelling at you
or making demands at you,
you can still fix it.
It's the moment
that she stops...
and that's when you know
you're about to be single.
That is exactly right!
I'm thinking
he wasn't very supportive
of your art, then?
How did you know that?
Lucky guess.
Hmm!
When I went
to fix your water heater,
and you seemed surprised
I was interested.
Yeah, you're right...
and it hurt.
But... that's in the past,
and now I have
Ken at the gallery
to worry about.
- Yes.
- Yeah.
You think
you're gonna make his deadline?
Yeah... maybe?
I've-I've been experimenting
with colors and shapes
and textures,
and I'll just
show him what I have.
I hope you don't mind...
but we need to take off soon.
Oh!
Yeah, uh... sure.
Are we late?
No, we're not late, but...
I do have
something special planned.
Oh... look at you.
I'm intrigued!
But it's a secret.
A secret?
Look at you. Okay.
"Soon to be revealed."
The thing is,
I always knew
I wanted to be a dad,
but it can be tough sometimes,
you know?
Like, not knowing
when to pick my battles.
Like...
do I make her
eat some of the veggies
she doesn't like?
Or do I just make her
one of the three
that she does, every night?
Sometimes, the simplest things
seem to be a struggle.
Well, you're doing
something right.
She's a great kid.
Don't be so hard on yourself.
Natalie is on the right track,
and I'm not just saying that
because she and her friends
are becoming my best customers.
She loves your store.
I think you'll be seeing
more of her this week.
Hmm?
There's this big
middle-school dance coming up,
and apparently, she
has "nothing to wear."
Well, do you know
what she's looking for?
Because I could
pull some stuff for her.
There is
a gridlocked disagreement
on that particular subject,
and, personally,
I'm committed to staying
firmly Switzerland.
Smart choice.
So, I wanted to take you
to the lantern festival...
but it got rained out.
- Ohh!
- However...
benefits of having
keys to the place.
Ah.
- Ready?
- Mm-hmm.
I brought
the lantern festival to you.
Will...
this is so beautiful!
Natalie came through
with the suggestion.
She was all, like,
"Dad, you're a handyman!
Bring the lantern festival
to her."
Well, if Natalie is helping out
with dating ideas,
she is doing a great job.
Ooh!
What can I say?
She likes you.
So she doesn't want you
to mess up.
That, too.
As far as father-daughters go,
I think
we make a pretty good team.
Over stereo]
Is this Natalie, too?
No, this is all me.
Okay!
So, if we were
at the lantern festival...
We would be soaked, yes.
We'd be making wishes
and sending them
into the night sky.
We would.
What would you wish for, Will?
Well, besides world peace
and all that?
Of course.
A version of this.
Here...
with you.
Me too.
You sure
you don't need any help?
No, thanks.
Keep working.
So, these egg tarts,
they're your mom's recipe?
Yes.
She learned
when she was in Hong Kong,
and she taught my cousin and me.
Did you email your cousin yet?
I did, but I haven't heard back.
Okay...
um, I have to get
back to the shop.
Are you gonna be okay over here
by yourself?
I am.
This is the last batch.
I'll put them in...
maybe tidy up a little
while they bake.
Mom. Do not move my stuff.
Of course not.
I would never do that.
Go!
Well, you'll never believe
what I just did...
I left my mother alone
in my house!
Oh, no.
She is rearranging
your furniture as we speak!
- Yeah.
- She's fixing your feng shui.
I can feel it deep in my soul.
Oh, yeah.
Also, your favorite new customer
came in with her mom and bought
the cutest little
polka-dot dress for her dance.
Oh! I'm sorry I missed her.
- Yeah.
- Mm.
But none of that matters,
because...
look at what came for you.
Not a word from you, Mister.
I wasn't gonna say anything.
Uh-huh.
Can I just say
that this new, sassy
version of Tee...
this is my favorite Tee so far?
Okay, you guys,
I'm gonna have to commandeer
the kiln for these pots.
The different clays
aren't always working,
so I need to play
temperature games.
You got this, Tee.
Tomorrow's the day?
Yup.
8:00 P.M.
Plenty of time.
Hey, everybody.
- Hey.
- Hi.
- Well, hello.
- Hey.
Um...
Natalie and I are wondering
if you would like
to come over for dinner tonight.
She'd really like to show you
the new dress
that she got for the dance.
Tee would love that.
She was just saying...
she has nothing to eat
in her entire house!
I didn't say that.
Fridge is empty,
cupboard is bare.
You guys are shameless!
So you'll come?
Yeah.
Thanks, everyone.
Much appreciated.
You guys are bad.
Free dinner.
Very good.
Oh, h*! That was amazing.
I think
I'm going into a food coma.
Well, I think
I'm beginning to understand
why men over a certain age
tend to fall asleep on the couch
every night.
Yeah.
Do you want to see
my dress for the dance?
I do!
Tee?
Thank you for bringing
those Brussels sprouts.
Dad only knows how to make,
like, three veggies.
Uh, well, I don't think
that's totally fair.
Ouch.
Okay, honestly, though,
I'm gonna need
that Brussels sprouts recipe
stat, because,
honestly, watching her eat them
was like witnessing
a miracle unfold.
I will send it to you.
Thank you.
Oh, yes!
That one!
I remember it now.
So cute.
Are you excited for the dance?
I am, but...
Emersyn told Mason, who told me,
that Jaden's big brother said
some of the dances are...
slow dances.
Yeah, that happens sometimes.
Do I have to slow dance?
No, you don't
have to dance with anybody,
if you don't want to.
When I was your age,
I mostly danced with
the other girls and with Theo.
What is it, bug?
I don't even know
how to slow dance,
so what if
one of my friends asks?
I don't want to hurt
their feelings,
but I also don't want
to be the only kid
who doesn't know how.
Okay, first of all,
almost nobody in middle school
knows how to slow dance.
Trust me on that.
That is true.
And, secondly...
May I have this dance?
Right this way.
All right.
One hand here,
one on my shoulder.
There we go.
Now... we're simply
gonna sway to the music,
and no one's gonna be playing
a tango or the waltz,
or anything crazy, okay?
Step up on my feet.
Dad!
Come on. Up on my feet.
One, two. Okay.
Now, we're gonna
rock to the music...
except, this time...
it's slow.
There you go.
Okay, hop down.
Come on, let's try.
Ready?
Does it look weird?
No!
Here, watch me do it.
- Hi!
- Hello, there.
Okay, this is what
you were doing.
See?
Nice!
- And extra points...
- Oh!
For a dip!
Now do me!
Here. Come on in.
All right, ready?
One, two, three...
and dip!
Very good.
And a spin... oh, a spin!
Oh, here we go!
Oh, my goodness!
Your turn.
Okay.
Garlic, ginger, and bok choy...
they were out of cabbage.
Fine, fine. Thank you.
Mm-hmm.
Are you almost ready?
Pretty close.
They're not perfect,
but that's kind of the point.
It's bold.
I'm proud of you!
Thank you.
It's just, you know,
with everything else...
the stakes feel even higher.
I just really need this win.
That's wonderful
that something means
so much to you.
Love you, Mom.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Bye.
Tee? Listen.
We don't get to choose
how life plays out...
none of us do...
but we do get to choose
what we carry with us...
so whatever you choose today,
choose it with your whole heart.
No holding back.
No apologizing.
No... regrets.
I'll try.
That's all any of us can do.
Okay, we just need to load
these into your truck,
and I know it's not far,
but they're so fragile.
Heads up...
I just got
off the phone with the city.
I tried to reason with them,
but there's
no easy way to say this...
we're done.
What?
I'm sorry I failed you.
I did everything
I could think of,
placed every call I could...
but they made up their minds.
They're meeting tomorrow.
They'll make it official then,
but they called
to give me the heads-up.
I'm really sorry, everyone.
I know
how hard you all have worked,
fixing this place up,
and I know
what this place means.
We can stay open
until the open house
on Saturday,
but then we shut the doors.
There has to be
something else we can try.
I wish there was.
I'm afraid not.
What if we get enough
new members at the open house?
Tee,
I admire your spirit, truly,
but without the support
of the City Council,
it's over.
I'm so sorry.
Theo did
a really nice job in here.
He certainly did.
It's all gonna be for nothing.
This place means so much
to the seniors,
and we have
all these after-school
programs planned.
I mean,
Natalie loves this place now.
I guess I need to find
a new kiln somewhere.
Hey.
Come here.
It's almost 8:00.
We really should hurry.
We should go.
I know, but...
what if he doesn't like it?
I mean, I can't take
two hits in one day.
I think the real question is,
do you like it?
You're the artist.
Is your work meaningful to you?
Very much so.
Well, then what does it matter
what Ken thinks?
Don't second-guess yourself.
But that's me.
Not anymore.
There it is!
Your confidence
is rubbing off on me.
I don't know about that.
But I do know
that you can do anything.
Okay.
Okay.
Oh, no.
It looks a little dark.
- Come on. Come on.
- Did he leave?
He has to still be here.
- He should... Is that him?
- Oh, oh!
- There he is, yeah.
- Okay, great.
Just breathe.
You're gonna be great.
Okay. Hi!
I'm-I'm so sorry I'm late.
It's been a day.
It's okay. You're only
a minute late. Come on in.
- Okay.
- Ken.
No.
But not for the reason
you think.
I'm gonna tell you something,
off the record.
People buy art
for so many reasons...
maybe because
they were told it's important.
Sometimes,
because it matches the carpet.
Look. I'm no artist, Tee.
I'm a businessman.
I specialize
in a certain type of art...
art that I can easily sell.
This... ain't that.
Your art will sell
because it's unique
and exquisite.
It will sell
because it makes people
feel something
that they want to feel.
But it won't sell
because someone
wants to coordinate it
with their backsplash.
You understand?
Yeah. Thank you.
Your potential is there.
You follow your talent...
wherever it takes you.
Yeah.
You know what?
Let me get some pictures.
I might know someone
in San Francisco.
Hey, Will!
Thanks again
for installing our new door.
Uh, we're just wondering,
we're thinking
of remodeling our bath.
Is that something you do?
Let me know!
- You bet it is.
- Thanks! Bye!
All right.
- Thank you. Thank you.
- Yeah.
Oh, boy!
It's a no.
But for the right reasons.
He's a good guy.
The word "exquisite" was used.
So you're happy?
I'm happy.
Tacos and ice cream?
That would make me even happier.
Thanks for coming in!
Hi.
Jane, is it?
Can I help you?
Uh, yes, I need to do a return.
Store credit is fine.
I'm sure we'll be back.
Okay.
Oh, but this is for the...
The dance next week.
Yeah, unfortunately,
they canceled it.
Oh, no!
There was some sort of flood
in the room at school,
and it's gonna be a good month
or two before it's fixed.
Well, I'm sorry to hear.
That's a shame.
- Thanks.
- Yeah.
Tee...
I just want to say,
I know about you and Will.
It's one of our rules...
disclose anyone who's
going to be in Natalie's life...
and I want you to know
I'm glad
he's found someone like you.
He's been busy
being a great dad.
You're the first...
since we...
you know.
Yeah.
Anyway,
there's no weirdness on my end.
Okay?
Nor on mine.
Thanks for being honest.
Theo?
What?
I'm not eating a Pop-Tart.
Mm-hmm.
Did you find out
about the city council?
Yeah.
There isn't much,
but I'm still looking.
Okay, um, they're meeting today,
so text me everything you know,
especially about
family in the community.
Sure.
And don't restock this.
Dang. New Tee's bossy!
Hmm?
Ooh!
Hello. This is Theo.
Hey. Got your text.
So, we're going
to the city council meeting?
We are. Can you round up
the usual suspects
and meet me there?
What are we doing?
All we can.
Hey.
That crush?
Huge now. Monster!
Towering.
We gotta go.
Go.
Okay, moving on.
Next on the docket
is defunding of the...
Learning Tree.
With no community input...
all in favor?
Uh, excuse me?
Excuse me.
- Yes?
- Hi.
Um, my name is Tee Collins,
and I would like
to be heard on this matter.
We'd all like
to hear Tee on this matter.
- Yeah! Yeah, come on.
- Yes, she has not had
- Let her speak!
- A chance to say anything!
Order. Order, please!
One at a time. Thank you.
Now, I know you likely
all have compelling reasons
for why you like
the Learning Tree,
but this council
has to be able to make...
Well, no, sir, it's actually
not about us at all.
I mean, yes,
we all have personal reasons
why we'd like to keep
the Learning Tree open,
and, yes, I could
tell you all of them.
I could tell you
why this community center
is vital to our city's
social and economic health...
but I think you and I
both know those are just words
to five people
who've never even been there,
so, instead,
I would like to invite you...
to our open house tomorrow,
to see for yourselves.
Young lady...
"Tee," sir...
her name is Tee.
Tee, I'm afraid I have
other plans tomorrow.
Yes, I know.
Every Saturday, you visit
your mother, Agnes.
Right?
She lives alone,
and she gets lonely,
and you worry about her,
but did you know that we are
designing daily programs
for seniors?
Mobility, arts, book clubs...
- That's right!
- Yeah!
Please bring her
with you tomorrow,
to see if this is something
that she might like to do,
to enrich her life,
and-and make friends.
She would be welcome...
if we stay open.
Councilwoman,
you and your husband
both served.
We did.
Well, my friend, Harry, here,
is developing outreach programs
for veterans in need.
Hoorah!
Maybe you both
would like to help, give back?
And Councilman,
your daughter goes
to the middle school
by the Main Street, right?
Uh, yes.
She loves it there.
Excellent teachers,
tons of friends.
Is she looking forward
to the dance next Friday?
Very much.
It's all she talks about.
Well, then, it's too bad
it was canceled this morning.
My daughter goes there as well.
A pipe broke...
flooded the room.
But...
if the Learning Tree
is still open next Friday,
we would be happy
to host the dance,
for a small fee.
If you brought your daughter
with you tomorrow,
we would love to hear
her ideas for decorating.
- We would all love to help.
- Yes!
Exactly.
I don't mean to put
any of you on the spot,
but do you see how quickly
we connected the three of you
to the new-and-improved
Learning Tree?
It's the same for each person
here in this town.
The Learning Tree
is not just a building...
it's a lifeline.
And we would be happy
to see you there tomorrow.
Thank you for digging up
all that info so fast.
I don't know if
it'll make a difference, but...
But we know
we did everything we could.
Exactly.
I think it will.
You're an artist and a lobbyist!
- Well done.
- Thank you.
Okay! You got this?
Got what?
Everyone in town's gonna be
at the Learning Tree anyway.
I'm gonna close up early
and tell everyone to go there.
I delivered the egg tarts!
It's already jumping down there.
We have to go!
Okay, I'm ready. Let's go.
Well, let it go
to voicemail, Mom.
Hello?
I think it's her cousin.
Here you go.
Tee! This is insane.
I can't believe
how many people are here.
All the new classes are full,
I'm adding extra slots,
and all
the council people showed up.
Fingers crossed!
Liz? I-I wonder
if I might have a word...
in private?
Yes, of course.
Right this way.
So, we have pottery classes
twice a week, for now,
and we will be
offering more soon.
Uh, we're fortunate
to be very well-stocked.
We even have a kiln.
- Tee!
- Yeah?
My dad's been looking for you.
- Where is he?
- In the activity room.
Is everything okay?
I don't know. Come on!
Excuse me.
Hopefully, the Learning Tree
can continue to...
Oh! And here she is, everybody!
Come on in.
As I was saying...
if we find that
the Learning Tree will continue,
the plan
is to showcase
one artist every month,
and it's my honor
to start this tradition...
by showcasing...
Tee's pots!
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
And a friendly reminder
to everyone
that most of these pieces
are in fact available,
and she can usually be found
at the Metro Retro,
just down on Main Street.
Excuse me...
but, actually,
I'm sorry to report
that none of these pieces
are still for sale.
Thanks to some help
from your cousin, Theo...
I've arranged for all of these
to go to a gallery
in San Francisco,
called "Ink and Silk"...
but...
I'm sure
Tee will make more soon.
Um...
yeah, Ken's right...
there will be many more pots
to come.
Thank you.
But...
the proceeds from these pieces,
I'm donating back
to the community center,
with my gratitude.
Thank you!
Well, now it's my turn
to interrupt,
but this can't wait.
What a turnout we have today!
Thank you
for showing what this place
means to all of us,
and, on that note...
enrollment
in our new programs
is through the roof.
We'll be self-reliant
within a year.
And...
the city has generously decided
to make up the difference
until we get there!
You did it.
We did it.
Come here.
Get in here.
Hey... you good?
Yeah. Some of my friends
are on their way.
Okay, great.
You look nice.
Thanks for helping
make this happen.
Kids at school
think you're pretty cool.
Really? What about you?
What do you think?
Yeah, you're all right.
Okay.
Have fun!
Oh, boy...
I saw this bumper sticker
that said,
"If my music is too loud,
you're probably just too old,"
and this has me concerned.
It's probably
a matter of context.
I bet your karaoke
is plenty loud.
Oh, my rendition
of "Sweet Caroline"...
absolutely spellbinding.
You know, your daughter
tells a different version
of that story.
She and I will be
having a conversation.
Oh, well, that's better.
I can hear myself think again.
So I got business cards
from that place you recommended.
Do you want to see them?
- Of course I do.
- Okay.
All right.
Ting "Tee" Collins.
Mm-hmm.
I love this for you.
You know, who would have thought
that the guy who fixed my fan
would become my biggest fan?
No, no, no, no, no.
No Dad jokes.
Really?
You know, more than
just your pep talks
are rubbing off on me.
- Apparently so.
- Mm.
Oh, hey, can I keep this?
You can.
You know,
when I first moved here,
I, um...
I really didn't expect
to find you.
Or such a large to-do list?
Or that.
Well, I'm glad you did.
So, does this mean
the pottery studio
is now top priority?
Hmm.
I think the pottery studio
might now be
a conflict of interest.
Fair.
Wait!
Do you know what this means?
What?
Well, back at the gym,
there's a very good chance
that your daughter
is slow dancing with someone...
possibly a boy.
Are you ready
to go back in there?
Yeah.
All right.
Big move coming...
Oh!
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Two for Tee (2026)
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