By: Atiya Irvin-Mitchell
We open with Takoda (Tokala Black Elk) and Gabby (Melissa Pearlman) setting up at the bar in the tavern. Bobbie (Reba McEntire) comes out, and she’s looking for Isabella (Belissa Escobedo), but Steve (Pablo Castelblanco) says that she is still in the Speakeasy. Bobbie asks him to go get her, but instead of going up the stairs, he yells after her. But he’s also curious about the urgency and wonders if Isabella is in trouble. Bobbie says it’s a surprise. One that Takoda is apparently in on. The duo shares that they’re turning the storage closet upstairs into an office for Isabella. Gabby doesn’t initially share in the enthusiasm because she was hoping the storage closet could be turned into an employee break room, and Steve hoped for an office. But, Bobbie says Isabella earned this, and because of how busy the Speakeasy has kept her, she could use an office.
Speaking of Isabella, she’s coming, and Bobbie tells everyone to zip it so she can deliver the news. Isabella comes down, but she’s distracted by a phone call about deliveries. Bobbie tries to tell her about the office, but Isabella has to go back upstairs and do an inventory check. When she’s gone, Takoda notes how frustrating it must be for Bobbie and says that maybe next time she’ll let him announce good news.
Later, Gabby is running drink names by Steve and Takoda because Isabella asked her to invent a new mocktail for the Speakeasy. Steve guesses that Gabby will end up naming it after herself, and she gets annoyed. A few moments later, Bobbie excitedly comes out and has a new plan: she’ll tell Isabella about her office and one of the group will film it. Steve agrees, and then things get awkward when Bobbie heads upstairs, but bumps into Emmett (Rex Linn). They talk about the weather, and Bobbie hustles Takoda upstairs. Steve goes to check on Takoda and asks him how he’s doing post-awkward conversation with Bobbie. Emmett says he’s not here to entertain, but Steve counters that that’s exactly why he’s here, and he hasn’t been entertaining these past few months. Emmett reminds Steve that he told Bobbie she broke his heart a few months ago and they can’t just jump back into joking around together after that. But Steve says they don’t have to joke; he just wants them to start acting normal with each other. Still, Emmett just wants to give Bobbie space and says he’ll handle things with Bobbie the way he sees fit.
Once Takoda and Bobbie are upstairs, Bobbie notes that they did a great job with the future office. Takoda power-washed the walls alone, so he’s confused about the use of the word “we,” but Bobbie wants to do a speedrun of telling Isabella. Bobbie is imagining Isabella being so happy she hugs her and starts crying and wants Takoda to get it on camera. Takoda thinks Bobbie is building this moment up a lot, but Bobbie is just excited because this will be Isabella’s first office. Then, Takoda offers to go get Isabella, but Bobbie tells him the best way to get a workaholic’s attention is to pretend you need them for work.
After getting a call from Bobbie about a delivery of rotten fruit, Isabella comes running upstairs. When she sees a desk and not her kiwis, she’s confused, so Bobbie explains they’re in her new office. But instead of crying happy tears, Isabella asks why Bobbie wants to get rid of her. Bobbie didn’t account for abandonment issues, but she tries to tell Isabella that this is a good thing. However, Isabella doesn’t immediately see it that way, but Bobbie says having her own office will make her life easier. Since she spends so much time in the Speakeasy, Bobbie says, she won’t have to run up and down the stairs so much if her office is upstairs. Still, Isabella says she’ll miss working next to Bobbie every day. But Bobbie reminds her that she’s really only 10 feet away. Isabella asks if Bobbie will miss her. All the same, Bobbie points out that they still live together. But what about everybody else, Isabella wonders. Bobbie says they’ll visit, plus they’ll be open seven days a week soon, so they’ll have to talk even more. Isabella, Bobbie says, is loved and valued and stresses that the office is a gift and not her being exiled. Isabella admits that the office is pretty great. Before she can have her big reaction, Bobbie ushers Takoda back in to get it on camera.
Sometime later, Gabby is getting Bobbie and Isabella to try her new mocktail: the virgin Gabby Hansen. Gabby is very excited about her namesake, but Bobbie and Isabella regret to inform her that the drink is bad. Gabby gets defensive, but apparently it’s hard to make a good drink without alcohol. Bobbie suggests that maybe she shouldn’t be putting so much pressure on herself. Still, the way Gabby sees it, this drink is her legacy and decades from now she wants old men to order virgin Gabby Hansens. Steve comes over to check in and doesn’t want to interrogate the ways in which no one liking the virgin Gabby Hansen mirrors the real Gabby’s life. But, he does tell Isabella she needs to fix the books because the IRS doesn’t want dollar amounts that end in ish. Isabella goes to fix things, Bobbie reminds her she is only 10 feet away, and then has another awkward run-in with Emmett. Again, they talk about the weather with the only twist being observations about construction.
When Bobbie leaves, Takoda asks Emmett what gives, and Emmett tells him that he’s giving Bobbie space. But Takoda says he hears things sometimes, and Bobbie said she’s giving him space. Takoda shares that his grandfather always said if two people keep holding doors open for each other, no one will ever get through. Emmett takes it under advisement.
An unspecified amount of time later, Steve comes in, and Bobbie is excited to see him, which confuses him. Bobbie explains that since he’s been working upstairs these past few days, she hasn’t seen him. She follows up by asking what he and Isabella have been working on upstairs. Steve explains they’ve been ironing out a budget for when the Speakeasy is open all week. Bobbie says she’ll see him in the morning, but he responds that he’ll be working upstairs all day tomorrow. And then, Gabby says she’s going upstairs to work on her mocktail. Then, Bobbie tries to talk to Takoda, but small talk isn’t really his thing. Now, Bobbie is regretting the new office because it seems like everyone but Emmett is upstairs with Isabella. The next day, Bobbie and Emmett have another awkward talk. But then, Emmett asks Bobbie if she’s doing okay. Bobbie says she’s fine and turns down Emmett’s offer for help. When Emmett goes back to the kitchen, we see Bobbie struggling to get the bar set up with everyone upstairs. This culminates in her falling and getting covered in beer.
Upstairs, Gabby has Steve, Takoda, and Isabella try the newest iteration of the virgin Gabby Hansen. The trio agrees that the drink is unique and memorable like the real Gabby. Gabby celebrates and then looks concerned, along with everyone else, when a very wet and possibly concussed Bobbie comes upstairs. Steve snaps a picture, while everyone else asks what happened, because Steve says that sometimes his family doesn’t believe his job is interesting. Bobbie explains she fell and that she hoped everyone would check on her after hearing the crash, but no such luck. Bobbie insists that she’s fine, tells them all to enjoy themselves, and leaves. Isabella starts to go after them, but then Emmett says he’ll talk to her.
Emmett finds Bobbie downstairs, and she immediately brings up the weather, but Emmett says they’re done with that. He asks her what’s wrong, and Bobbie laments that while everyone was having fun upstairs, she opened the bar alone. Emmett says he thought Bobbie wanted them to have a good time, and she does, just not without her. Emmett says she can’t be too stubborn to admit that she’s lonely and points out that everyone else is only 10 feet away. Bobbie remembers she told Isabella the same thing. Bobbie likes giving advice, but taking it is hard. Emmett says Isabella’s office is the shiny new toy, but things will be back to normal in a week because they love Bobbie. Bobbie thanks him, and Emmett says that that’s what friends are for. Emmett says he was giving her space, but that’s over now, much to her relief. He then asks if she needs help cleaning up, but she says she’s got it handled and calls Takoda.
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