Life in Pieces – Cabana Hero Action Son

By starrymag | July 4, 2019

By: Jessica Wolff

 

 

In the first story, Mort (Paul Dooley) attempts to plan a family trip to the Bahamas and Matt Short (Thomas Sadoski) tells him they can book rooms on Hotels.com. Greg Short (Colin Hanks) tries to take the tablet away, but Matt refuses to let him have it. Matt books the rooms and Joan Short (Dianne Wiest) compliments his computer skills. Greg argues that anyone can do it, but John Short (James Brolin) reminds him that he didn’t do it.

 

As the family arrives in the Bahamas, everyone compliments Matt for his work. Greg points out that he tipped the driver, but Jen Short (Zoe Lister-Jones) tells him the money is still in his hand. Once inside, Jen remarks how beautiful the pool is, and Greg shows her the cabana he bought. Jen is touched that he got the cabana just for them, but Greg yells out to the rest of the family to join them. He questions why nobody is coming, pointing out that they celebrated Matt’s booking of the trip.

 

Jen asks if he really booked the cabana due to jealousy and Greg tells her he doesn’t have to impress her because she’s just his wife. Greg tells Heather Hughes (Betsy Brandt) about the cabana and she asks if there’s a bathroom inside. He tells her that there isn’t, and she declares she’ll go swimming instead. Jen comments that she wishes they had their honeymoon there, but Greg is still annoyed that the rest of the family won’t join them in the cabana. She suggests he tell them that they want to be alone, as that would lead to them running to the cabana, causing Greg to get an idea.

 

Greg brings Sophia Hughes (Giselle Eisenberg) to the cabana, touting all its amenities. Sophia asks if she can return to the pool and he tells her to tell everyone how great the cabana is. She tells him she will if it comes up organically, otherwise it seems desperate. Jen tells Greg is doesn’t matter if they think Matt is more generous than him, but Greg argues that booking a cabana is harder than booking rooms. She doubts that, and he admits that it isn’t. Jen tells him Matt booked the rooms for the free nights, explaining that Colleen Brandon-Ortega (Angelique Cabral) told her on the plane.

 

Later, Matt tells Jen he got her text and asks if she wants to make fun of Greg in private. Greg pops out from behind the counter and tells Matt he texted him from Jen’s phone. Jen tells Greg that she thought he would let her leave before he did this, but Greg tells her he wants her to witness this and that it will make him more attractive. Greg confronts Matt about booking the room for free nights and Matt tells him that he and Colleen haven’t ever taken a trip by themselves. Greg threatens to tell the family about his selfish motives, but Matt tells him they already know and are happy about it.

 

Greg admits that Matt has covered all his bases and that he’s wasted a lot of money. Jen deadpans to Greg that this is so attractive, and Matt offers to pay for the cabana. Greg agrees as John comes in and thanks Greg for buying the cabana for them. Matt tells him that he’s the one paying for it and the rest of the family thanks Matt as they come in.

 

In the second story, Heather and Tim Hughes (Dan Bakkedahl) play at the craps table in the hotel casino. Heather suggests that they put the chips down on the numbers that represent the kids’ birthdays, but Tim can’t remember Sophia’s birthday. Nearby, somebody screams for a doctor and they see that Stuart (Richard Kind) is choking. Tim rushes in and successfully performs the Heimlich maneuver to much applause. Heather excitedly tells the crowd that Tim’s her husband and that he’s good in bed.

 

Heather excitedly tells Sophia, Samantha Hughes (Holly Barrett), Tyler Hughes (Niall Cunningham), and Clementine Hughes (Hunter King) about what happened. Clementine calls the act amazing, and questions if she should be a doctor. Heather tells them that Tim saved a rich guy, and Sophia remarks that it’s worth two normal lives. Tim insists that they don’t need to call him a hero but that he doesn’t mind if they do.

 

Heather remarks that she’s having trouble breathing and that she needs Tim to get behind her tonight. The kids are grossed out and Samantha points out they’re literally surrounded by their children. Heather sees Stuart walk by with Carol (Ashley Contino) and points him out to the kids. Tim holds out his hand to shake but Stuart walks by without noticing him. Tim suggests Stuart could be in shock and Heather tells him that she’s shocked too and needs someone to knock some life into her later.

 

Tim and Heather observe Stuart and Carol from across the bar and Tim can’t believe he didn’t thank him. Heather reminds him that he said he could be in shock, but Tim tells her that’s not a real thing. She encourages him to go, suggesting that Stuart might not have recognized him. Tim declares he’s going over there, and Heather continues to flirt with him as he walks away.

 

Tim approaches Stuart and introduces himself as Dr. Tim Hughes, lifesaver. Stuart tells him to get his hands off him and Tim reminds him he saved his life. Stuart suggests Tim has had too much to drink and Tim shows him an olive, telling him it’s similar to the one he almost choked on. However, Stuart tells Carol they should leave, accusing Tim of hitting on him.

 

Tim returns to Heather, lamenting that he didn’t get a chance to take a selfie with Stuart and the olive. Heather tells him that plenty of his patients appreciate him, but Tim tells her that he doesn’t normally get the chance to swoop in and save someone’s life. She assures him he did the right thing, but he declares he should have let Stuart die.

 

Tim glares at Stuart and Heather tells him to let it go. She suggests Stuart isn’t the type to say thank you but Stuart thanks the cashier, calling him a lifesaver for extra pickles. Tim approaches Stuart and confronts him. Stuart asks what he wants, and Tim tells him he wants a thank you for saving him in the casino.

 

Stuart denies being in a casino and Carol calls Stuart a lying bastard before storming off. Stuart explains that Carol threatened to leave him if she caught him gambling again and sarcastically thanks him. Tim tells him he’s a doctor, and that no thank you is necessary.

 

In the third story, Matt and Colleen put money into a slot machine and get an instant jackpot. Matt suggests the machine is broken, as they are never lucky. Meanwhile, Joan asks Jen where Matt and Colleen are while in a flamingo painting class. Jen admits she only agreed to the class because it would be all four of them. Joan comments that they don’t get to do an activity together much, and Jen is unhappy that the class is two and a half hours.

 

Matt and Colleen continue winning at the slot machine, but Matt admits he’s starving and has to go to the bathroom. Colleen tells him they can’t leave, telling him that someone will take over the machine. Stuart tells them there’s a time limit on the machines and Colleen tells him to go away. Matt tells Colleen they have to take a break and they roll Mort’s wheelchair in front of the machine.

 

Matt tells him to scream if someone tries to roll him away and Mort remarks that he doesn’t know this television show as he stares at the slot machine screen. Joan asks Heather if they’ve seen Matt and Colleen, and Heather tells them they’re in the casino. Jen questions why she didn’t think of that and lies that the second hour of the art class got better

 

Matt and Colleen return and Mort screams as they try to roll him away. They assure him it’s just them, and Mort tells them he came to the Bahamas for the ocean view. Matt rolls him to a screen with a picture of the ocean. Joan confronts Matt and Colleen, telling them they should be outside enjoying paradise. She and Jen see Mort parked in front of a wall and Joan asks why he’s in a timeout.

 

Matt explains they’re storing him for when they need him to hold the machine. Jen remarks that Mort doesn’t want to spend his most likely final vacation like this, and Mort declares he’ll be in the Bahamas next month. Jen tells him they’re there now and rolls him away for a change of scenery. Joan hands Matt and Colleen a private couple’s trip to an island, telling them to have a real vacation.

 

Matt and Colleen relax on the beach and are impressed by the view. They declare that it’s paradise, but quickly find that they’re having trouble relaxing. Matt declares they need to return to the machine, asking why they listened to Joan. Meanwhile, Joan and Jen win while playing the machine. They declare they want their money, asking who is supposed to bring it to them.

 

In the final story, Mort sits the family down and tells them he has an announcement. He tells them he brought them on the vacation to introduce them to someone special. John is in disbelief that he’s already dating, reminding him that Mom just died. Mort tells them he wants them to meet the son he had behind his wife’s back: Stuart.

 

Stuart says hello to everyone but tells Tim he doesn’t like him. Tim reminds him he saved his life, but Stuart reminds him he killed his marriage. John asks Mort how he could betray Mom like that, and Mort tells him he hated her and that he grew to hate Stuart’s mother as well. Stuart suggests that they hug like brothers, but John suggests that he and Mort go to hell.

 

Joan tells John she can’t imagine how he feels, and John questions how Mort had time for another family when he never had time for theirs due to working. Joan asks why a gym teacher would take so many business trips and Mort asks John if he’s doing okay as they observe sting rays with Stuart. Mort tells John that he wants him to give Junior a fair shake and John is horrified that Stuart’s first name is Mort.

 

John questions why Stuart got the family name and Joan insists that John must also be named after a family member. Mort tells them that they let the nurse name John and John remarks that he should have known when he saw Mort having lunch with another family. He explains that Mort requested to eat with his other family at the nursing home.

 

Joan points out that he doesn’t have to visit Mort as much anymore and John suggests that Mort loves Stuart more than him. John suggests that the nurse named him after a corpse and Joan tells John Doe Short to not say things like that. Joan suggests he focus less on his anger for Mort and reminds him he always wanted a brother.

 

John admits he always wanted a brother to teach him to play the guitar, but questions if Stuart knows how. Joan suggests he ask him, but Stuart tells John he hates every genre of guitar. Joan suggests they find something else to bond over, but Stuart admits he’s a man of few interests and that he spent his life in the skies. John asks if he was a pilot too, but Stuart tells him he was a flight attendant.

 

As the family watches a fountain light show, John admits to Stuart that he was cold to him when they first met, and Stuart insists that they hug. Stuart tells John it takes time getting used to having a brother, as he took time to get used to Gary. John asks who Gary is and Mort tells him Gary is his other brother. Stuart explains that Mort got around a lot and John gets angry. Stuart assures John that Gary is great and Mort tells him that Mitch is the real bastard. Joan holds John, suggesting that Mitch might know how to play the guitar.