By: Atiya Irvin-Mitchell
It’s a full house at Happy’s Place. Most of the folks in the tavern appear to be waiting for the speakeasy, and Gabby (Melissa Pearlman) notes that Isabella (Belissa Escobedo) must be happy that her idea is so popular. But Steve (Pablo Castelblanco) says she’s mostly stressed out because she worries that if she doesn’t open the speakeasy fast enough, people will lose interest and leave. When Isabella comes out to tell the crowd it won’t be much longer, two people leave the tavern, and Isabella chases after them. Bobbie (Reba McEntire) stops her, and Isabella tries to get Takoda (Tokala Black Elk) to get their license plate numbers. He declines because the last time he did it, he nearly got run over. Bobbie tells Isabella that she can’t force people to stay and that she needs to calm down. Isabella says that just because a few people left doesn’t mean everyone will get tired of waiting. But actually, Steve says a few other people left too, and Bobbie tells him that sharing that wasn’t helpful.
Isabella is upset because she can’t fit all the guests into the speakeasy, but Bobbie tries to reassure her that this is a good problem to have because waiting for something makes people want it more. Isabella still wishes there was a way to keep people from leaving while they wait. Steve announces another group is leaving and Isabella yells to block the door. But, Steve wasn’t finished, he meant they’re leaving from the speakeasy which means more people can go upstairs. Bobbie is worried that Isabella is going to have a conniption, so she resolves that they have to find a way to keep people from leaving during the wait.
The problem, Gabby says, is that the speakeasy customers want mocktails and not actual alcohol. If this generation doesn’t want to get drunk, then how will they accidently create the next generation. Bobbie suggests serving seltzers and mixers as mocktails and charge for them.
As Steve is sending an email, Emmett (Rex Linn) comes over asking for advice about Monica (Cheri Oteri). Bobbie overhears this and Emmett changes the subject because he doesn’t want to talk about Monica with Bobbie. When Emmett leaves, Bobbie wonders why Emmett is being so sneaky about discussing Monica when Bobbie is the one who initiated the break-up. Steve says he is probably just uncomfortable, like an accountant being force to talk about the chef’s love life with his boss. The part of the statement Bobbie focuses on is “love life” and Steve is annoyed she didn’t take the hint. But Bobbie says she gets the point he was trying to make, but, he shouldn’t be uncomfortable because she’s over it. Gabby says she’s doing that thing where her words and face don’t match. Because their friendship and Steve’s nosiness collide, Steve asks Bobbie if she still has feelings for Emmett. Bobbie says of course she does, she was about to tell Emmett she loved him and feelings like that don’t go away overnight. If that’s the case, Steve wonders why she doesn’t try to work things out with Emmett and Bobbie doesn’t want to talk about it.
Isabella comes down and tells the next party they can come up. When they don’t immediately come, Isabella is worried that they left. But Bobbie and Gabby say to not worry, they sold them mocktails to tide them over. The problem is that, that’s supposed to be the speakeasy’s thing. Bobbie says she’s just trying to help and wonders what has gotten into Isabella. Isabella feels betrayed because if the tavern is selling mocktails, the customers won’t have any reason to go to the speakeasy. Bobbie says it’s just the stress talking and tries to defuse the situation. But, Isabella feels like that’s dismissive. Takoda tells them to keep it down, but sober people notice arguments more. Bobbie thinks they should table the argument until they get home, but, Isabella says she’ll just be all reasonable and Isabella will feel bad like always. Bobbie promises to be unreasonable, but, Isabella feels like their conflicts are next truly resolved.
Takoda suggests that they go to couples’ counseling because it really helped his sister and her husband. Isabella thinks it’s a great idea, but Bobbie points out they’re not in a romantic relationship. But, Isabella says that couples’ counseling is for anyone in a relationship and they are in a relationship. Opening the speakeasy has created some tension, Isabella says, so they should try to address it. Bobbie insists she doesn’t have a problem, but Isabella thinks they do so she’s making them an appointment. When she’s gone, Bobbie wonders how she ended up in therapy with her sister and Takoda says it’s a question for the therapist to help her answer.
Emmett goes back to Steve for advice and ushers him into the kitchen. He wants advice about Monica and was hoping to keep the conversation private, but Gabby overhears and invites herself in. Emmett tries to tell her it’s none of her business, but Gabby says as Monica’s best friend she should be there to represent her interests. Emmett points out that Bobbie is Gabby’s best friend. Gabby’s response is that Bobbie is Gabby’s best friend and Gabby is Monica’s best friend, so it all balances out. Long story short, he has been out with Monica a few times and the last time they kissed. The problem, Emmett says, is that there weren’t any sparks. He thinks he needs to break up with Monica. But, Steve points out it could be tricky because Monica is a health inspector and if she takes it badly she could have a grudge against the tavern. Yet, Emmett wants to let her down easy and hopefully remain friends. But, Gabby suggests the best thing to do is to act like such a jerk Monica dumps him. The upside is that Monica won’t feel rejected, but Emmett’s dignity will be gone. Takoda was listening in and his advice is to just be honest because they’re both adults and Monica will understand. Emmett ends up agreeing with Takoda and Steve is disappointed that Takoda offered good advice before he did.
Bobbie and Isabella go to therapy and are waiting in the waiting room. Isabella advises Bobbie to relax, but she is already distrustful of Dr. Russell Peabody III (Eric Stonestreet) and doesn’t think she’ll get anything out of therapy. Another person waiting snickers at that and says that people afraid to look at themselves can’t be helped. Bobbie gets offended at this and snaps at him and the man reveals himself to be “Dr. Russ.” Isabella the psych major tells Dr. Russ that he’s being unorthodox to put them at ease so they’ll reveal things. Isabella wants him to tell her that she’s right and Bobbie wonders if he’s a real doctor. Dr. Russ says he is a real doctor and he even went through the pre-screening forms they filled out. Bobbie wrote no more than what was necessary and Isabella wrote a novella. Bobbie asks if he’s going to tell them what’s wrong with them, but Isabella says that, that would take months. But, Dr. Russ says he gets it and is ready now. He says Isabella would rather intellectualize her emotions than actually feel them and she disagrees. She says understanding is the first step to acceptance and he responds that he can’t argue every Pinterest quote she’s read. For Bobbie, he says she’d rather avoid her feelings and pretend there isn’t a problem until her relationships fall apart because she’s afraid. With that, Bobbie is ready to be done and leaves.
Emmett and Monica are having dinner and it’s awkward for Emmett. Monica is talking about how she loves Emmett’s honesty and how she’d never say the L word first. Emmett takes this as a sign that they should talk. He tries to let her down gently and Monica wants to take Emmett to her mother’s grave to meet her. Emmett pushes ahead and says he wants to go back to being friends. Monica is shocked and Emmett says he really likes her, but he doesn’t have romantic feelings for her. Monica starts to cry and Emmett tries to explain he didn’t mean to lead her on. This doesn’t make it less upsetting for Monica and people are staring which Emmett hates.
At the tavern, both Isabella and Bobbie are mad at Dr. Russ. But very reluctantly, Isabella admits that he might’ve been right. She does analyze her feelings to put a name to them, it’s why she studied psychology. But, she doesn’t do it to make her feelings go away, it’s to understand and accept them. For Bobbie, it’s a lot harder to admit that she’s avoidant. As an example Isabella points to the fact that as opposed to dealing with her feelings in relationship with Emmett she ended it. But, Bobbie says it wasn’t her that hurt that damaged their relationship it was Emmett keeping their father’s secret. But, Isabella forgave Emmett, so why can’t Bobbie? Isabella thinks that the problem might be that now Emmett reminds her of what Happy did (affair and secret adulterous love child). Bobbie says she forgave Happy, but Isabella finds it surprising considering what he did to her. But Bobbie says it wasn’t to her, it’s what Happy did to her mother, Isabella, and Emmett. Happy lied for years and hurt a lot of people and Bobbie doesn’t understand why. Isabella says she knows Bobbie wants to forgive their father, but she can’t unless she accepts what he did first. It’s hard because Bobbie loved her father so much, but now that she knows about all his indiscretions it’s hard to admit she doesn’t like him very much. Isabella says that talking about it helps. This makes Bobbie realize that she was unfair to Emmett and wants him back.
Speaking of Emmett he returns and because Steve and Gabby ask, he explains he took their advice. Emmett is upset and heads into the kitchen, only to be joined by Bobbie. He doesn’t want to talk, but Bobbie says she heard he broke up with Monica. Emmett wonders if she also heard to he ripped that kind woman’s heart out and Bobbie says she didn’t hear it like that. Emmett explains that he used to be solid and then he started dating again. He says he broke Monica’s heart, like she broke his. Bobbie apologizes, but Emmett says he’s done with dating. From now on he just wants to be solid again, so Bobbie says he wants that for him too. Isabella hears and asks Bobbie what she plans to do and Bobbie says she’ll give him time like he did for her.
Sometime later, Monica comes by Dr. Russ’s office and he asks where her partner is. Monica shares that she doesn’t have a partner because he broke up with her and is wondering if Dr. Russ can teach her how to win him back. Dr. Russ says it’s been quite a week, but agrees and she lays down on the couch.