Life In Pieces – X Box Glimpse Spotlight

By starrymag | June 12, 2019

By: Jessica Wolff

 

 

In the first story, Heather Hughes (Betsy Brandt) gets a text from Samantha Hughes (Holly Barrett) with an “X” and an address. She reminds Tim Hughes (Dan Bakkedahl) of the deal they made with the kids that they can text “X” and get picked up with no questions asked. Heather questions Samantha’s reason for the text and Tim suggests that the “X” is suggestive.

 

As they are about to leave, Sophia Hughes (Giselle Eisenberg) tells them she had a nightmare they were abandoning her in the middle of the night before realizing they actually are. Heather and Tim debate who should stay with Sophia and Sophia comments this is worse than abandonment. Heather picks Samantha up and awkward silence ensues. Heather promises she won’t ask any questions but asks why she’s wet. Samantha reminds her that’s a question and asks if they can go.

 

The next morning, Heather declares to Tim that the “X” text sucks, telling him that she wants to know what happened. Tim suggests asking Samantha, but Heather tells him Samantha would never trust them again. Samantha comes downstairs distraught and ripping her dreamcatcher before throwing it in the trash.

 

Heather tells Tyler Hughes (Niall Cunningham) and Clementine Hughes (Hunter King) about the “X” text, and Tyler tells him Samantha told them all about it. She presses for details, but Tyler reminds her of the “X” text rules. Heather argues a potential loophole, but Tyler refuses to divulge. Clementine assures Heather that Samantha will eventually be fine, but Tyler stops her from saying anything else.

 

In the middle of the night, Tim finds Heather attempting to unlock Samantha’s phone while she’s sleeping by putting it to Samantha’s face. He tells her she can’t do that, but she tells him to flip Samantha over. Samantha flips back over, and Heather reminisces about the time when Samantha would tell her everything. Tim tells her she’ll talk to them if she wants to and Heather crawls into bed with Samantha and cuddles her.

 

The next morning, Samantha approaches Heather and tells her she’s lucky to have a mom like her as she didn’t press the entire family with questions about what happened. Heather laughs that she wouldn’t do that, and Samantha thanks her. She tells her that a lot of kids got in trouble at the party, telling her she has no idea. Heather smiles but buries her face in her hands once Samantha leaves.

 

In the second story, Tim and Colleen Brandon-Ortega (Angelique Cabral) go to a show together. He reminds her that she invited herself when he called Matt Short (Thomas Sadoski) to invite him, and she tells him it pays off to answer Matt’s phone and read his texts. They agree that they love circus shows, and Colleen admits she likes the fantasy aspect of it.

 

Colleen buys a bowl of poutine and Tim starts cursing. She realizes that he’s mad because he can’t eat poutine anymore and he tells her everything he eaten since the surgery is “steamed sadness.” Colleen tells him she’ll go eat it over a garbage can, and he replies that’s his favorite way of eating it. Tim asks for one bite, insisting he can handle it. However, Tim refuses to give the bowl back, telling her they’ll need two of these.

 

Later, Tim struggles with the poutine in the bathroom. Tim goes to his seat and lies to Colleen that he’s doing fine though he is clearly not. The show begins and a clown comes onto stage and Tim’s stomach starts having problems. Tim tries to return to the bathroom, but Colleen tells him the clown is coming into the audience to pick someone.

 

Colleen tells him they won’t pick him if he looks too eager and Tim looks directly at the clown. The clown picks him, and Tim tries to talk his way out of it.  The clown pulls him on stage and Tim struggles as another clown forces him into a giant box. The first clown flirts with Colleen as the other clown locks Tim in the box despite his pleas.

 

The clown pours champagne for him and Colleen and they clink glasses. Tim begs himself not to go to the bathroom in there as the other clown makes a routine of struggling to open the box. Tim tries the mind over matter method but finds that it doesn’t work. Colleen takes a selfie with the clown and the clown answers her phone. Tim tells him he needs to go to the bathroom, but the clown hangs up before turning Colleen’s phone into a bouquet of flowers.

 

Tim calls Heather and tells her the situation as she drinks a glass of wine at home. He declares that he’s having another contraction and begs her to help him. Heather tells him she’s having wine with Jen Short (Zoe Lister-Jones) and Jen says hi to him over speakerphone. Heather asks Tim what he wants her to do and he tells her to call the theater. She tells him the trick will probably be over by the time she gets to them and Tim apologizes for eating poutine.

 

Tim sends Heather an “X” text, begging her to come with no questions asked. The clown in the audience transforms a violin into a box of chocolates and Colleen is impressed. Tim promises God that he’ll only eat healthy food if he gets him out of this. The clown on stage uses a prop saw to open the box as Tim continues to plead with God.

 

Once the box is finally opened, Tim runs backstage as he pleads with himself to hold it. Colleen asks if he was supposed to return to his seat, and the clown declares this isn’t good. Tim runs through the performers and isn’t able to make it to the backstage bathroom.

 

In the third story, Jen is overwhelmed with a crying Talia and Lark Short (Ana Sophia Heger) dancing around her. Joan Short (Dianne Wiest) asks if she’s okay and tells her to take Talia upstairs to breastfeed while she watches Lark. Jen thanks her telling her that despite her complaining about these brunches, she’s happy to be a part of a close-knit family. Joan is surprised she complains, and Jen denies she said that.

 

Later, John Short (James Brolin) tries to go into the room where Jen is and leaves quickly. He tells Joan that he saw Jen’s boob, explaining that Jen was sleeping in the room with her boob out. Joan points out that it’s a good thing Jen doesn’t know but John insists he has to tell her. She tells him not to, but he insists he has to get out in front of this. He declares that if you see something you have to say something, but Joan tells him that’s at the airport.

 

Jen comes down and John insists he’s not looking. She tells him that Colleen brought a peanut butter and jelly frittata, adding that she likes her tatas plain and simple. Jen thanks him for watching her girls, telling him they’ve made her feel comfortable in the family. John blurts out that he saw her boob, and Jen tells him she breastfeeds in public all the time. He explains that the feeding was over at the time and calls himself a horrible person. Jen calls it an accident and suggests they never talk about it again.

 

Later, John tells Greg Short (Colin Hanks) that he apologized, and Jen forgave him. Greg asks for what and is horrified when John tells him he saw Jen’s boob. Greg asks Jen about it and Jen is annoyed that John told him. Joan asks John why he’s not letting this go and Jen is annoyed that John told her too. John explains he told Joan before her and Jen declares she needs a moment alone. Greg asks if he can come too, and Jen agrees declaring there’s no privacy here.

 

Joan tells John to stop embarrassing Jen and Tim asks what he embarrassed her about. The rest of the family asks what happened and John tells them that Jen saw his penis. He tells them Jen walked in while he was feeding the baby and the rest of the family questions the story. Jen and Greg return and Heather apologizes for John. Jen is annoyed he told everyone, and he tells her that everyone knows she saw his penis.

 

Jen and Greg are disturbed, and Jen tells everyone that John saw her boob. Jen explains what happened and Heather questions why John told them she saw his penis. Jen suggests that John was trying to protect her by embarrassing himself. John calls the tactic clever, but Joan calls it stupid. Jen tells John he preferred it when he told her the truth, no matter how hard it was to hear.

 

Tyler admits he also saw her boob, and Greg threatens to end him. Jen asks if anyone in the family knocks and Tyler tells her they’re not big knockers. She asks if anyone else saw her boob and Matt, Colleen, and Tim slowly raise their hands. The baby starts crying and Jen tells everyone that anyone who missed the 11:30 show can follow her. As she walks away, Greg orders the rest of the family to stay in the room.

 

In the final story, Greg tells Matt that it’s cool to watch their kids play together. He offers to give Matt “dadvice” and Matt questions him calling it “dadvice.” Lark goes to the piano and the family turns their attention as Lark plays badly. Greg tells them Lark’s been taking lessons, and Heather asks if they’re piano lessons. Lark finishes and the family applauds as Joan comments that Lark hit every key.

 

Greg comments to Matt that Lark casts a big shadow and that Lucas (Vivaan Bisoi) will find his own chance in the spotlight. Lucas goes to the piano and plays a song. Greg asks Matt why he didn’t tell them Lucas could play and Matt tells him he didn’t know. John remarks that he likes that he can tell what song Lucas is playing and the family applauds when Lucas is done. Matt tells Greg to let him know if he needs any “dadvice” as Lucas impresses the family with another song.

 

Later, Matt tells Greg that Lucas learned how to play “Tiny Dancer,” and Greg calls out his “subtlety” of Lucas learning to play Joan’s favorite song. Matt insists that it came on the radio and tells him it’s their role as parents to nurture their kids. Greg is annoyed at him and Matt makes a show of drinking out of a “World’s Greatest Dad” mug. Greg asks where he found the mug and Matt tells him the mug found him. Greg reminds him he’s been a dad for three weeks and Matt remarks that you don’t become the greatest by working slow.

 

Lark shows Greg a construction of the Eiffel tower and Greg calls everyone’s attention to Lark’s work. Joan is impressed but Lark tells Greg that Lucas made it for her. Matt gloats that it’s Lucas’ work and tells Colleen they’re doing a great job. Greg gets up and Matt tells Greg it’s okay he hasn’t taught Lark to explore her creativity. Lark starts picking her nose and Greg insists she learned that from Jen.

 

Greg attempts to teach Lark a magic trick, but she struggles to understand. Matt asks he’s teaching Lark magic tricks to get attention and Greg tells him that Lark had the spotlight until Lucas came along. Matt replies that he used to have the spotlight until Greg came along and insists that he’s over it. Greg points out that he brings it up all the time and Matt tells him it hurts to give up the spotlight. Matt points out he’s refusing to let his nephew have the spotlight and Lark tells Greg she forgot what she’s supposed to say.

 

Colleen films as Lucas performs a dance routine for the family. Lark asks if she can show her magic trick and Greg tells her that they’re watching Lucas. Greg tells Matt that Lucas is pretty great and Matt tells him Lark is great too. Greg suggests that Lucas and Lark ride bikes together later, and Lucas tells him he doesn’t know how to ride a bike. Greg takes the victory and suggests that Lark teach him.