- Amber (Mae Whitman) hopes to prove herself as a future mother when she agrees to babysit Max (Max Burkholder) and Nora (Mia and Ella Allan), but the results are disastrous. Sarah (Lauren Graham) comes to Amber's side for support. Joel (Sam Jaeger) and Julia (Erika Christensen) make strides toward a final decision on their relationship. Hank (Ray Romano) has a heart-to-heart with Sandy (Betsy Brandt), who is surprised and moved by how Hank has grown. Meanwhile, Drew (Miles Heizer) is guilted into hanging out with Zeek (Craig T. Nelson), and an unexpected adventure draws Drew away from his studies.
- PREVIOUSLY
Hank tells Sandy that Sarah is a big part of his life and will be a big part of Rubys. Sandy relents. Ruby storms into the shop, declares that she hates her mom, and says it would be better to live with Hank and Sarah. Sarah tells Amber that shes not trying to convince her not to go through with the pregnancy, but she cant begin to explain how hard it will be to do this. Julia tells Joel that they should tell the kids that theyre not getting back together.
NOW
Early in the morning at the Bravermans, Nora walks into the master bedroom where Amber is fast asleep. She wakes Amber and Max comes in, too. Adam and Kristina are in Sacramento trying to get funding for the school. Max reminds Amber that she is there to drive them to the ferry for an 11 AM trip to Alcatraz the next day, despite her fear of open water. He has meticulously timed their trip and is concerned that Amber is still in bed at 6 AM, unlike his parents, who are more punctual.
Drew, under the impression they are going to a doctors appointment, is driving Zeek in the GTO. Zeek is being a backseat driver and making Drew nervous. Zeek instead directs Drew to a burger place drive-through in Oakland. Zeek looks for a little sympathy because Millie had been giving him nothing to eat but grass and twigs, but Drew is appalled Zeek would even consider this because of his recent heart surgery.
At the shop, Hank sets Max up with camera equipment for the Alcatraz trip. He makes Max promise not to take the camera out until they get to the island, and that he will come pick up the camera later that day so he can use it for a photoshoot. Ruby storms in, declaring she hates her school and has to transfer. Sarah guesses its about a boy, and Ruby probably doesnt want to see at school again. Hank, not understanding, keeps interrupting as Sarah slowly guides Ruby out of the shop so they can talk about Jake.
Joel and Julia are at the mediators and are now discussing the house. Julia wants to sell it and split the profits. Joel, clearly depressed, says she can have the house for her and the kids. They leave and share an elevator down. As they stand staring at the door, she reaches for his hand. They hug. And then leave separately.
CREDITS
Natalie is helping Drew study for an economics test in three days. They are only getting confused and Natalie recommends a study break. Zeek calls and tells Drew to come pick him up for an adventure he will never forget. Drew is reluctant but Zeek doesnt give him a chance to decline. Zeek packs cans of food into a sack and hangs up, saying hell see Drew shortly.
Max reminds Amber that they are late to get to the ferry to Alcatraz. Amber rushes around the house to make sure she hasnt forgotten anything. They go out to the minivan but Amber doesnt have the keys. They wind up having to take Ambers roadster and she struggles with Noras baby seat, but by now, by Maxs calculation, they are too late to beat the traffic and make it to the harbor. Max storms back into the house, declaring that Amber wont make a good mother.
Sarah and Ruby are watching Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Ruby says she wouldnt have problems with boys if she were as hot as Phoebe Cates. Sandy had been waiting for Ruby outside. She comes in and Ruby storms off to get her things. Sarah apologizes for Rubys mood, saying that its about a boy, Jake. Hank again does not know what Sarah is talking about. Sandy is shocked that Sarah is showing Ruby a movie about teenage promiscuity. Sarah says its a broadcast version. Sandy, condescendingly, decides Sarah has different parenting skills and asks Hank how he feels about Sarah showing their fifteen year-old daughter a movie like that. Hank runs off to pick up his camera from Max. Sarah is surprised Hank has left her, mid-argument; Sandy is not surprised.
Julia visits Joel at his apartment. She says that yesterday at the mediators was emotional so she wanted to make sure what he meant what he said about the house. He says he is definite about letting her have the house. She thinks the smart thing to do is to split this asset, but Joel says the house is not an asset, its a home, where they first brought their baby daughter, and where their son spent his first safe night. He knows he hurt Julia, and if he cant share the house with her, that he wants her to have it. Julia apologizes and leaves.
Hank is at the Bravermans. Amber, teary-eyed, answers the door and says Max is freaking out because of their scheduling problem. As she tries to explain how she is, Hank brushes past her and finds Max pacing back and forth in the kitchen. Hank paces with him, and says hes stressed too because Sarah and Sandy were fighting and he panicked and walked out. Max says Dr. Pelikan told him sometimes he wants to be alone simply because he likes being by himself. Max tells Hank he likes being isolated and that there are few people he can be with. Max says he likes Otis, his parents and Hank. Hank realizes he shouldnt have walked out on Sarah.
Zeek has directed Drew through a winding mountainous area but they wind up in an urban area that Zeek had remembered as an undeveloped field. He is disappointed because his father used to bring him there to shoot cans and he wanted to share how great a time he had with Drew. They get out and Zeek shows Drew his sack with the cans and a pistol. Drew freaks that Zeek is holding a gun in public, AND in a liquor store parking lot, and that Zeek took him away from studying to go shooting, AND that Zeek doesnt know how he feels about guns. Drew tells Zeek to get back in the car.
Hank comes home and apologizes to Sarah. Sarah characterizes it as a tense conversation with Sandy and she left with nothing resolved. Hank wonders why Sandy was yelling about a stupid movie. Sarah tells Hank it wasnt about the movie but about Sandy thinking Sarah was trying to be Rubys mom. Hank doesnt understand that either. He then tells Sarah the Braverman house was crazy as Max was freaking out and Amber was crying. Sarah asks, and he cant tell her why Amber was crying he didnt ask Amber. Sarah, knowing, but disappointed, leaves to check on Amber.
Drew is driving with Natalie to find a place to have dinner. She sees the cans of cream corn in the back seat and laughingly suggests they eat those instead. Drew tells her what he did with Zeek that afternoon, and how upset he was, but Natalie calls him a selfish jerk, saying that Zeek just wanted to have a fun time with his grandson and create the same fond memories he had with his own dad.
Sarah arrives at the Bravermans and finds Max eating from a bag of chips, chugging soda from a two-liter bottle, with Otis eating the remains of a half-gallon tub of ice cream, and the TV showing a Chucky movie. He says the system has broken down. Amber is upstairs cradling Nora, and cant move or she will wake her. Sarah lies next to them and Amber, whispering, explains what happened with Max and the car seat. Amber doesnt think she will make a good mother if she cant even handle a car seat. Sarah says its her fault because she failed Amber by showing her Fast Times at too young an age. Sarah says Ambers baby wont start out being Maxs age or even Noras age, and that she wont have to do it all by herself.
Chris shows up at Julias. She had forgotten about their date. She explains she got her divorce papers that day and it hit her harder than expected. He suggests they dont have to go out; she says theres no reason why he shouldnt come in. He does.
Julia didnt think the divorce process would happen so fast or that their meeting with the mediator would go so smoothly. Now, if she signs the papers, it will all be over. He promises not to talk about it but then asks her about the house. She frowns and at first he thinks something bad happened, but she tells him that she has the house. She was prepared to give it up but now she is staying there with all the memories. He holds up his half-full wine glass and says if he finishes it, he wont be able to drive home. She says shes also tired. He puts the still half-full glass down, kisses Julia, and leaves.
Hank goes to see Sandy and tells her that Sarah is not going to replace her as Rubys mother. Sandy says she knew that. Hank tells her that he has problems communicating; shes been trying to tell him that for 18 years. Hank tells her their problems were not because of her, it was because of him. Hank admits to seeing a shrink and that he has Aspergers. He says it must have been hard living with him. She is surprised but finally understands. He asks if theyre good; she says they are.
At Zeeks home, Joel is talking with Zeek about baseball. Zeek is enjoying the conversation, but wonders why Joel came over. Joel says hes there to say goodbye, that he never had a role-model growing up, and thanks Zeek for being there for him. He tells Zeek that their mediation ended and he has to leave. Zeek asks if he is giving up, Joel denies it, but Zeek says he is. He asks Joel if he loves his kids, if he loves Julia; Joel says he does. Zeek says he took him in as a son, and if he loves Julia, he needs to stay and fight for her.
Hank and Sarah are playing backgammon at home. Sandy comes by to pick up Ruby. She promises Ruby a big day as shes found a yogurt place that has taro root flavor it is Rubys , and as it turns out, Hanks favorite flavor. Sandy and Ruby invite Hank along, and Sandy is excited because they will get to talk about the Jake situation. Sandy apologizes to Sarah about taking Hank away. Sarah says its okay. They leave, not having invited Sarah.
Drew comes by and invites Zeek on a trip thats on a need-to-know basis. They wind up at a shooting range. Theres a setup with animal silhouettes and a pyramid of food cans. Drew says hes there to watch Zeek, but Zeek convinces Drew to shoot.
Hank, Sandy and Ruby are having a good time eating yogurt.
Amber is reading to Nora in bed.
Joel sits in his dark apartment, alone, then gets up and drives to Julias. He knocks and tells her that a year ago, she had asked him to fight for her, but stupidly, he didnt listen. Now hes here and he wants to fight for her and their marriage, and doesnt want to spend another second without her.
NEXT
At school, Max asks Dylan to be his girlfriend. Later he sees her kissing another student and starts a fight. Kristina tries to intervene. Ruby throws a party despite promising Hank that she wouldnt. Amber has contractions; Crosby helps her to the hospital.
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