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You're watching The Grinder. For justice?

For justice!

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And that's where I wake up. Every night for the past week, same nightmare, same

scene. What does it mean?

So, wait, I'm sorry.

Did he punch his way out of there? Yeah, he grinded his way out. Through six feet

of peck dirt. And an oak coffin.

Okay. And what does that mean to you, grinding?

I noticed you say that a lot. Doing whatever it takes to find justice, no

matter how hard the grind.

And what is that, the grind?

The everyday struggle for justice.

In the show?

Everywhere.

Right.

Dean, I wonder if maybe the line between reality and this TV show haven't been

blurred. Just a hair.

I'm not following.

You, Dean, played this character for a very long time. And he's a part of you.

Yes, that's my training.

And maybe the reason you feel haunted by this scene is you, too, feel trapped by

the grinder. He died, but you haven't let him go.

Ugh.

It's so hard.

I understand.

Tell you what.

I'm going to write you a prescription, and I want you to follow it to the

letter. I'm willing to do anything to get better.

I gotta say, you are glowing since you quit that job. Thanks.

I feel like I'm really killing unemployment.

Just checking stuff off my list, you know? Stuff I've wanted to do for years.

Ugh, my list is getting so long, but who has the time? Is Dad still pissed you

didn't talk to him about it first?

What?

No. He seemed pretty pissed.

I mean, I bet that's why he left before breakfast. No, no. He left before

breakfast because he had to get to work early. Is that what he told you? Yep.

But he's not mad. I see him pretty mad.

I bet you he's weird at dinner. I bet he doesn't even bring it up. I bet you he

does. I will take that bet.

Five bucks?

Let's make it ten.

Shake on it.

Plaintiff's name is Corey Manler. Dad represented him when he was accused of

shoplifting in 1998. Now he's suing us for malpractice. I can't believe this

punk is coming after my license. It's not just about you now, Dad. It's bad

for the whole firm. Could jeopardize everything we've worked for.

Stuart?

Don't you think you're overreacting?

I am.

Dad, just pull the original case files and I'll go through it with you. Nah,

Dean's right. You're overreacting. I got this.

Are you sure, Dad? I really think we could do it... Stu! Dad says you can

take the wheel.

Let him take the wheel.

Great. Anything else? Um, Todd, is there something else on the docket that we

need to discuss? Right. Uh, Dean has an announcement.

Oh, right. Yes.

Oh, great. I think many of you have probably been wondering recently what's

going on with Dean.

Why is he acting so unusual?

Not really. I picked up on something. Well, and I'm not ashamed to admit it, I

am in therapy.

Yeah, we all know that. You've literally told everyone. I'm on a journey.

A journey of introspection and self-discovery, and my... Jillian, my

psychoanalyst, has made me realize that I... can sometimes

be... dramatic.

But I am taking steps to correct that, and as part of that, I need to rid

myself of everything Grindr. What? I know, and it's going to be difficult. So

I beg of you, please do not discuss anything Grindr-related in front of me.

Obviously, I can't stop you from doing it on your own time, and I would never

dream of asking that. Sorry, I can't handle this.

Todd, just a quick suggestion. I think making announcements that you're going

to make an announcement is in itself dramatic.

Great notes, too.

From now on, I will not be announcing my announcements.

Just like that? Yeah, just, you just say it. Just come out with it? Just come

right out with it. No heads up? No heads up, just let her rip.

I'm just going to say it.

This isn't the case.

Are you sure you don't need any help, Dad?

Because it's like a beautiful mind in here. Nah.

Is it maybe in one of these? Don't touch that!

If you touch something, and then move it, and then I won't know where it is,

I'll be totally screwed.

Fine. Well, we should at least get the affidavits and the financial records and

the plaintiff. I can get those.

They're right here in this area. No, Dad, they're not here.

We have to actually go to the clerk's office and file a request for those.

They make you jump through so many hoops these days. In the old days, you took

the judge and the opposing counsel, you had a martini. Things worked themselves

out. Well, that sounds pretty shady, actually.

Kind of just spits in the eye of the whole judicial system. If I know Judge

Cordell as well as I think I do, he'll throw this right out. Yeah, Dad, Judge

Cordell died years ago. What?

I gotta take a walk. I gotta calm myself down.

And you just won't listen. And it's frustrating because this is really

serious, you know? Well, you know, Stu, Jillian says that things are only as

serious as we make them. Perhaps you could benefit from that mindset.

Definitely. Dad, did you ask Mom how her day was?

Mm-mm, not fair. Oh, that's right. Today was your first day off. Mm-hmm. Right?

How'd that go?

Great. So good. I got so much stuff done.

Checking stuff off the list. Boom, boom, boom. I have a big list.

Yeah? Yeah.

And... This is on it. I am currently checking something off my list. And how

great does that feel?

Well, I don't know. But, you know, until I'm done checking it off. But it's

feeling pretty good.

Dad, isn't this cool?

Mom's list stuff?

It is cool.

So cool.

Just would have been cooler if you told me quitting your job was on it.

There it is. Yes.

There what is? Why did you... And Deb, if I may, I really admire you. Thank

you, Dean.

Yeah, you're so brave. I mean, to take this kind of time off...

I would know what to do with it. It sounds great, you know, you have a lot

of time, but then you just think and you replay your choices and you wonder if

you did the right thing.

I would go insane.

Not me, though.

Mm-mm.

Love it.

Love it.

Super happy.

So great.

Hey, Dean, do you have a bit... What are you doing?

I'm getting rid of all my Grindr stuff.

Were you not in the meeting yesterday?

No, I was in the meeting. Why would we...

be revisiting issues then that we've already been through.

If we already did in the meeting. Otherwise, we should just do this.

Forget the meetings.

No, let's have meetings. Let's keep those going. And I'll just promise to

pay more attention to them. That's right.

Look, I'm a little concerned about... I'm concerned about...

I'm a little concerned about... I'm a little

concerned about that in the case. Why are you yelling? Oh my gosh, really?

I know that you're upset about Dad handling this on his own, but this is

part of his growth.

He's 75 years old, Dean.

I mean, I think he's done growing. Who are we to put a limit on a man's growth?

Right. I just, I feel like if this guy throws us a curveball and Dad's not

ready, we're screwed.

I would have gone with screwball there.

Right, yeah, screwball.

Screwball would have been better. It's not a big deal, but for next time. Sure.

I just feel like I should take the lead on this case, Dean.

Dad could use my help. But would it be help, or would it really just be cutting

him down at the knees?

I don't even know why I talk to you. I guess I'm on my own then, making sure

this place doesn't go up in flames.

Look who's being dramatic now. I'm being dramatic. I'm dramatic? Stuart, I cannot

argue with you right now. I'm in therapy. I'm very vulnerable, like a

raw, an emotional baby.

So I'm going to kindly and politely ask you to leave.

Why is the baby raw? Stuart! I cannot participate in this drama.

I'm going to set back my recovery.

Stewart, your brother is working very hard.

Therapy was your idea, remember?

Yes, I remember, Jillian. You wanted him to be less dramatic.

I did want him to be less dramatic, but Jillian, he's being very dramatic about

being less dramatic. Okay, you need to find your breath.

Okay.

Did you find it?

Yes,

I found it. Great. Thank you. Dean is just trying to make amends for past

behavior.

And you need to allow him to do that. Remember, we've talked about your

control issues before.

Jillian, this is not about me. You're not breathing.

Breathe.

Stuart? I'm calm. You need to loosen up.

Remember when we got you to let Deb take the reins in bed?

That was helpful, right? Uh, yeah, at first.

Yeah.

But I got it. I see your point.

Thank you.

Hello?

Someone home?

Mom! Hi!

What are you doing here? I thought you were going to be out checking stuff off

your list.

Oh, I am. I have been knocking so many things off my list, you caught me in a

down moment.

Uh-huh. Why are you standing so weird and far away?

Hey, Mrs. S. Joel!

I know. I was just dropping her off. Yeah, he wasn't going to say. What? Why?

Why not?

Come in. Come inside, you guys, both of you. Come on. Seriously?

You usually yell at me to leave.

No, I don't. That's crazy. Get in here.

Dad, you have to fill out the other half.

The bottom half.

Back off, will ya?

You know how many evidentiary forms I have filled out in my life? A lot, I

know. You just, you can't put N.A. for case number.

Well, I'm gonna go back to that.

Relax, Stu, you're all over my ass.

Okay, I'll, I'll, uh, I'll be back here, far from your ass. I got this.

I'm gonna breeze through it this afternoon or maybe over the weekend, and

then we'll get it thrown out by Monday.

Senator Yow, I prepared a paperwork.

All right, so it's a few files.

Hi. Can I have a minute?

Or should I come back at a better time?

Um, later would be better.

Kind of busy the rest of the day.

Okay. Then come in, I guess. What's up?

As you know, um, I'm in therapy.

Yes, I think you mentioned that. Before I can move forward, I have to reconcile

my past.

So, I need to apologize for my behavior. Yes, you do, but... Because when I look

back on it, I was relentlessly sexually harassing you.

I mean, my whole will-they-or-won't-they fixation. What was that about?

Looking back, there wasn't one comment that wasn't over the line. Very true.

It's unacceptable, and we really need to be thinking about gender politics in the

workplace. Yep. Just because you are an attractive woman and I am an attractive

man does not mean we have to be together.

Does it make sense physically? Yes. Okay.

I'm starting to feel harassed by this apology.

And I hear you.

You know what? I'm gonna go work on it and thin out the sexual harassment

stuff. Come back and give it another shot.

No, don't go back. I think we're good.

I just, I needed a change, you know? I mean, it was time. I was feeling so

stuck. If not now, when?

Exactly. That's what I keep telling my band. But Cody's all like, I'm an AP lit

and I want to go to college.

And I'm like, what about the music, bro? Cody sounds like he needs a swift kick

in the ass. He totally does. He does?

Okay, well, it's getting late and I think Joel has to be getting home.

What? Why?

Because of dinner? Do you want to stay for dinner?

Are you serious?

Like, really, I can't tell. I would love to stay, Deb.

Thank you for the invitation.

Thank you for the company.

Do you want to help me in the kitchen? I can chop.

I'm sorry, wise beyond his years?

Zadak. I'm just saying, I think he's a good listener.

There's more to him than we can give him credit for. Well, now I know you had too

much time on your hands, honey, because that's, that's just, doesn't make sense.

Oh, guys, would you mind joining Jillian and myself in the living room?

Jillian's here? In our house?

Just...

Let it out.

I've been living a lie for a long time. That's it.

And as a result of that, I've hurt a lot of people. People I love dearly. People

in this room.

No, I wouldn't say that you've hurt any of us. He has. I just wouldn't say hurt.

Just stop talking.

Sorry, okay.

I mean, look at the pressure that I put on this marriage. I moved in here, I

turned everything upside down, and now you two are at each other's throats. I

don't think we're at each other's throats. No. No, but you have been a

little, um... Pissy.

Yeah, pissy. Pissy? Pissy. Pissy is a good way to put it. You think I've been

pissy? I think pissy is fair. Stuart, why do you think pissy isn't fair? I

don't think I want to answer that question. Isn't that a little pissy,

Julia? I would say so. So pissy is a psychological term now. This feels like

a family thing. Should I go?

Yes. No. Yes. No.

You're a guest in our home. Okay. This is exactly what I'm talking about.

Unnecessary... You know, you're fighting over whether she should quit, whether

Zadak should stay or go. You and I are fighting about Dad.

You guys are fighting about me? We're not fighting about you. I just think

that you could use an extra help with the case. And I think he's cutting you

off at the knees. Mr. Sanderson, do you think Stuart is cutting you off at the

knees? Oh, really?

Well, a little bit now that you mention it. Then let's not mention it. Let's

stop mentioning. I've been a lawyer for 50 years. I can handle this case.

You know what?

I'm gonna do what Dean suggested.

I'm gonna sit in the driver's seat of my life. That's perfect. Instead of riding

shotgun like a woman. All right.

Isn't she great? She's phenomenal.

When she told Dad, you know, to go rogue like that, that's certainly not gonna

harm the firm. Well, actually, Joel had a great take on that.

Joel did? Mm-hmm. Joel had a great take?

Yeah. Oh, I would love to hear this. Joel, what do you got, buddy? Well, Stu,

I was thinking, since the old man's in a little over his head... Who is this guy?

And Deb's a great office manager born out of her mind. You are. What happened

to the list?

Honey, I finished the list forever ago. I have nothing to do. I'm losing my

mind. Joel, are you suggesting that Deb help Mr. Sanderson? Is that what I'm

hearing? I mean, it just feels organic.

It's organic.

That's the word. You nailed it. Say that again. I don't think that this is a bad

idea. Yeah, I think it would work. So you're okay with Deb working with you,

but you won't let me? Deb's not trying to control me like a puppeteer. Ah,

that's what this is all about.

Control. We all want it. Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm. I know I do.

And that's why tomorrow I'm taking it back. How?

I'm going to burn it all, E.

I'm going to cleanse myself with a grinder, and I'm going to do it right

out back on the foundation of my new house.

I'm going to build my new life atop the old.

Well, at least there won't be any more drama.

I thought I might find you here.

Well, it's my apartment.

You haven't come into work for a couple of days. Are you sick or are you trying

to avoid me?

Dean, I can't. Don't you think this is hard enough for me?

Telling you that your hero is nothing more than a facade.

Why are you doing this? Because none of it was real.

It was real?

To me, if you're not the grinder, I don't know who you are anymore.

I'm just a man standing behind another man, telling him that I'm no

hero. I'm just a human man.

I think you should go.

If that's how you want it.

I'm having a goodbye ceremony at the house. It would mean the world to me if

you came.

You made paper invitations.

Always.

Oh, wow.

He put you right to work, huh?

Yeah, well, he asked me to go through some documents for him. Actually, he

shoved a box at me and said, figure this crap out.

Yeah, that sounds like him. So glad he asked you to do this.

And not me, who knows what this all means.

Uh-oh.

Feeling a little upset?

You know, I feel like I would have been helpful.

You know, he's just trying to impress you. He wants to show you he's still got

it. Yeah, but what if he doesn't got it? Dad, then what? Well, then he will be

very organized while he's losing his case.

Stuart, if you're that worried about it, just take a little peek.

Oh, I don't want to overstab. I won't tell my boss.

Give me just a quick peek, baby.

Just a quick one. Just get in there. A little sneak-a-loo? Yeah.

You came.

I... Thought it was mandatory.

No, I don't think so. That's what it said on the memo. Well, either way, you

wanted to come, and I appreciate that.

Yeah, of course.

So please accept this envelope.

You told me that you were adopted. Inside, you will find the name and

telephone number of your birth parents.

Open it whenever you want. They're expecting your call.

Um, Dean, I found my birth parents, like, ten years ago.

We have a relationship.

Well, that would explain why it was very underwhelming for them.

Yeah.

I love you.

We're starting!

All right!

Your brother is yelling for us to join his grinder bonfire. Oh, wow.

Hon, the plaintiff did these? Yeah. For a guy who's not a lawyer, these are...

Really well prepared.

Is this bigger than we thought?

I don't know yet.

Wait, are you being serious? Because I was joking.

Thank you all for being here.

It is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye, not just to a multi-layered TV

character, but to a friend.

Yay.

You can do this. Right, guys? He can do this. Right.

I'm gonna need it, especially from you, Deb.

Oh. Come on, support him. Um, you can light the fire.

Great.

If I light this, I can't un-light it. The fire you have lit

cannot be un-lighted.

Yeah. Light it up!

Uh, Dean, can I... I'll talk to you for a second before you burn all of your

belongings for no reason. No, Stu, there's no more talking. Back off, Stu.

There's no more stalling. This is the moment that all of our lives have been

building towards. I agree. Yeah, this is that moment. All of our lives? Let's do

this. Oh, it's not about me, are they?

Behold the cleansing flame.

Goodbye,

old friend.

I will see you on the other side, sir.

No more drama.

Like a phoenix, I arise from the ashes.

A normal human man.

Hey, Liz,

why isn't Zadok here?

Why would he be? You know, because he's your boyfriend and he's into cool stuff

like fire.

Okay, Mom, I was only into Zadok because you guys hated him. Oh.

Well, would you mind if I still, you know, talk to him? I mean, I wouldn't

make plans with him or anything, but, you know, if I ran into him at the

mall... No, that'd definitely be inappropriate and weird, so... I always

cry at these things.

I get it.

Even Claire feels it. No, it's just the smoke. It's burning my eyes. I don't

care about any of this.

Dean, I was... Hi.

Hi.

I was going through, Dad.

I was...

I was going through Dad's files, and it doesn't add up. Stuart, do you not get

what's going on here?

Look at those flames.

No more drama.

Okay, yeah, I'm telling you, Dean, there's more to this. You know what? I'm

sorry. I am going to remove myself. The two of you are speaking about legal

things. Yeah, that'd be... As a professional. Right. I believe in the

importance of confidentiality. It'd be great.

Thank you, Julie.

Of course.

What?