Central Park – Squirrel, Interrupted

By: Paige Zinaman

Cole (Tituss Burgess) sings about who his heroes have been. The song turns out to be about the squirrels in the park. As he continues to sing Birdie (Josh Gad) chimes in with why Cole was so excited only to realize that Cole was still singing. The camera pans into the kitchen where Cole enters to join Molly (Kristen Bell), Paige (Kathryn Hahn) and Owen (Leslie Odom Jr.) While they are eating they watch and listen to what Cole is saying. The song reaches a break as Molly and her parents discuss how long this whole thing will be lasting because she wants to plan accordingly. Finally, Cole’s song comes to an end. Dinner is over as Paige and Owen talk about how this whole squirrel thing will be good for them because it’s been a while since he and Cole have had a good father/son day. The next day Paige and Molly are sitting at the table when Paige closes her laptop telling Molly that the boys are out doing their thing and that she needs a break from work. She asks Molly to play a game of chess with her.

Paige and Molly start their game of chess that is as unique as the two of them. It’s very surprising to Paige how good Molly truly is at chess this time without her letting Molly win this time. Molly gets the confidence in her and tells Paige that since she’s so good they should go down to the chess house so she can play the people inside the park. Paige, who isn’t as confident as Molly, agrees that they should go. Birdie comes back to tell everyone that while Owen and Cole have their time and Paige and Molly have their chess time Bitsy (Stanley Tucci) is having her extra alcohol time because she is at an annual family retreat at her brother’s house that she is hoping to ruin.

Meanwhile, at Bitsy’s brother’s house we see the family retreat in full motion as Bitsy, Shampagne and Helen (Daveed Diggs) arrive. Bitsy is soon telling Helen that there is something wrong with her hand and notes her that her drink hand is empty sending Helen off to get one. Bitsy makes a move to see her brother and starts singing about how her brother is like a viper and how she has news to share to so they can kneel in front of a big deal. The song continues as Bitsy calls out each of her family members. It doesn’t take long before she and her brother are face to face and insults are flying. He begins to question why she’s actually there after not showing up to any of the others prior then asking if she’s there asking for money like everyone else. Helen arrives back to Bitsy who stops insulting her brother long enough to tell him that she has to drink the whole pitcher before talking to him and that she’ll see him in five minutes.

Back at the park, Owen and Cole are waiting for the Squirrel Squavenger Hunt to begin when Enrique (Stephanie Beatriz) arrives. Owen greets Enrique and asks if his father will be attending as well to which Enrique tells them that his father is more of just a reader. The hunt begins as Enrique and Cole bid farewell. After reading the first clue Owen follows after Cole as he takes off knowing where to go. As the hunt is going on Paige and Molly arrive to the chess house where a defeated chess player leaves after having lost. They look in as others are playing and watches as others lose and storm out of the house. Molly tells Paige to just wait for her as she walks up to a player and starts rambling as she asks if he’s waiting for someone to play him. He introduces himself as Danny (Ron Funches) and asks Molly if she’s sure she wants to play because she might be working some stuff. They continue to play as Molly makes a move and wins the game. Paige gives the winning chant. Danny asks if she wants to play again and that he’ll come up with a chant for when he wins.

Owen and Cole are still deep in their squavenger hunt when Birdie pops up again explaining that as they are doing this hunt, they are slowly driving each other crazy. Owen who is taking everything very literal in the sense that he’s the park manager and nothing makes sense causes Cole to stop and telling him that he’s doing it again. Birdie goes on to explain that when Owen would complain Cole would just call him on it until Owen went too far and tells Cole that squirrels don’t evolve from dinosaurs. This news hits Cole too much as Enrique runs up telling Cole he knows where another clue is, Cole tells Owen that he’s just going to do the hunt with Enrique and takes off without Owen. As Cole runs off, Owen’s phone rings and Paige is telling him that Molly is a “Ruthless B word and I’ve never been prouder.” It’s at this Owen responds less than enthusiastically and tells Paige that he messed up. Owen breaks into a song about how much of a bad dad he is and wants to take the day back. Meanwhile, Paige duets a song about how giddy and happy she is because Molly is a chess genius and how she is so proud. The song shows the parents having two different experiences with their kids.

Back at Bitsy’s family retreat Ambrose (Edward Asner) is passing the paddle to Brendan (Eugene Cordero) who tells them about flying his kites and how he met a girl before passing the paddle. Ambrose keeps telling each member of the family how depressing their achievement have been. Bitsy wants Helen to make sure that whatever Ambrose was about to get refilled does not come back to him. Helen arrives in the kitchen and doesn’t let him leave with the glass as she knocks it out of his hand and kicks him. Back at the park Danny and Molly wrap up their game when Paige arrives and offers Danny a hot dog as an apology for Molly beating him. Danny tells Molly that if she really wants to play someone she should play Constantine (Rich Fulcher) to which Paige encourages Molly to go home. Molly walks over to Constantine and asks if he’s willing to play another person. He tells her to set it up as Paige runs over and tries once again to get her to just go home.

Enrique and Cole are almost finished with the squavenger hunt as they read their clue and they talk about how much they miss their dad. Back at the chess house Constantine asks Molly if she’d like a draw to which she says she wants to play, much to everyone’s shock. He pulls up a chair and they start to play a game and in a matter of seconds he beats Molly. As this is happening Owen is racing through the park reading each of Cole’s books trying to find them. He runs into Birdie and he spots Cole and Birdie offers music as he goes after him. Owen apologizes and tells Cole that he loves him and that he wants to finish the hunt with him. They notice the mass of people start to show up and take off to find the last clue.

Back at the Brandenham Estate, Ambrose seems to be getting weaker after Anton (Marc Evan Jackson) didn’t return with his drink. Bitsy walks up to him and takes the paddle and tells everyone that she’s going to be buying Central Park. Everyone starts talking and just smiles like it doesn’t seem to faze them as her nephew picks up the paddle and tells everyone that he’s going to run another 5k. At this Bitsy just walks out when everyone starts applauding her nephew instead of her. Molly and Paige are walking home when Paige starts singing about not being a genius and was overcome with excitement. Molly tells Paige that it’s okay and that she played a chess master. She says that if she took the draw then she’d never learn anything from it. Once again the audience is back at Ambrose’s house as Bitsy is leaving. Brendan comes after her asking if she’s really going to purchase Central Park and tells her that he doesn’t think she should. She tells Brendan that he is giving the reaction she was looking for and tells him to go let Anton out of the broom closet because Ambrose will be needing his meat shake. The episode comes to a close with Owen, Cole and Enrique enjoying some food with the author of the book series and creator of the squavenger hunt.