All language subtitles for Rutherford.Falls.S02E02

- I got the last turkey legs
from Ye Olde Smoked Meats.

We're gonna get sick of
quasi-colonial food eventually,

but not today, baby.

- You know, hiding in an attic

really makes you miss
hot food and bathrooms.

- You've missed so much.

The town's revamp.
My 18th birthday.

- Well, I did send you
that Cameo

from Olivia Rodrigo's horse.

- That was you?
- Yeah.

- That horse did not
phone it in.

I love an animal
who knows her angles.

- Agreed.

Reegs, I finally took
the official museum tour.

It's amazing.
You should be really proud.

- Thank you.
Well, it's just the beginning.

I am interviewing
co-curators today.

- Nice.
- Lean in, queen.

Gaslight those hoes.
Nathan, welcome home.

- Nice to see you, Ms. Fish.

- So you're happy to see me?
Okay.

- Oh! It's--it's a platitude.

- I listened to that podcast
about you, in bed, on a loop.

Then I started a subreddit
and there's, like, five of us

who are obsessed.
- Hmm.

- I just kept thinking about
you wandering the country.

Humiliated.
Desperate for human touch.

- Oh!

Well, it's a podcast.
Things get exaggerated.

I think we've all moved on.

- I have Josh's info
if you wanna dox him.

- Well, I find that troubling.

Um, we should go.
- Oh, really?

- I'm gonna get some napkins.

- Okay.
- Yep.

- I'll take some.
- Oh, yeah.

- Oh, this poor girl.
- Yes.

[upbeat music]

* *

- So Wayne and Sally,

what would you say
is your reason for being here?

- The interview.
You finally twisted our arms.

We're willing to work for you.

- But only as a team.
- Oh.

- So why don't you begin by

telling us a little about
yourself?

- Sure, would love to.

I run a museum,
and this is a waste of my time.

- You're making a really bad
first impression.

Very unlikable.

- It's not a no, but you gotta
turn things around quick.

- So Nelson, you went to
Dartmouth for your undergrad

then did a dual graduate
program at your tribal college?

- Museum and Library Sciences.

I spent a lot of time
working with my elders as well.

You know, working with them

to help save my people's
language.

It was pretty beautiful.

I ended up
teaching them so much.

- Wow.

High-achiever type, huh?

- Look, I don't see preserving
our traditional life ways

as any type of achievement.

It's more of a cultural
imperative.

You know, this really
should have a top.

And the label here
has two grammatical errors.

This is off-center,
and your wattage on this--

- [clears throat]
So nice to meet you, Nelson.

Thank you so much
for coming in.

I don't wanna take up
too much of your time.

- I've only been here
for seven minutes.

- A very sacred number.

As I'm sure you know.

It's never gonna happen.

- B-b-but rehab has left me a
changed man. [chuckles]

And I've severed my ties
to Ithaca College.

- You were fired
for teaching class naked.

- Well, nude and naked
are two different things.

And quick question,
may I live here?

[plucky bass music]

* *

[knock at door]

- I asked not to be disturbed.

- Ooh.

[speaking Mohawk]

- I'm but a humble servant
to our people.

- In an $800 suit.
- Purchased at Nordstrom Rack.

- Ooh, business
is that bad, huh?

- Ah, there it is.
That Feather Day charm.

Happy to see your opposition
to our casino expansion

didn't keep you
from barging in today.

What can I do for you?

- I am running for mayor
of Rutherford Falls,

and I'd like your support.

- Right, the special election.
I read about that.

- We've had our differences,

but we both know that I can get
this town back on track.

- This town is profoundly
on track.

Our projected growth
is outstanding.

We just need time.

- Well, I think
that's a bunch of bullcrap.

I'm going to be mayor, Terry,

and I would rather roll
with you than through you.

But either way, I'm rolling.

- Well, the casino can't
take sides in these matters.

Bad for business.
And I myself am not political.

Unless you count voting
ten times for Brooke Simpson

on "America's Got Talent."

- [laughs] Only ten?
- It's the max.

- Not if you use the website
and the app.

- Well, good luck
on your campaign.

I'm sorry I can't be
of more help.

- [chuckles] Let me know
when you change your mind.

- [speaks Mohawk]

- [speaking Mohawk]

* *

- It's been a couple of months,
who are these grown women?

- I know.

Teenagers double in size
every month, it's wild.

They've been asking about you,
Nate.

I don't know what to tell 'em.

- Well, I'm not sure
what to say, Duz.

It's just been
super weird being back.

- Yeah.
- You know?

I mean, this is weird.

That, super weird.
- [laughs] No, I know.

Look, I get it.
I just--I want my brother back.

- I'm working my way back.
I promise.

- Okay.

- Hey, are you Popcorn Guy?
- What?

- From the podcast, you know?

- Oh, yes.

I am the guy
who offered popcorn

to settle a centuries-old debt.

Not my proudest moment.

- You know what,
you gotta meet my roommate.

- I do.
- He thinks you're a maniac.

- He does.
- Hey, Billy!

Hey, get over here.
It isPopcorn Guy.

- No way!
Ask him if he has any popcorn.

- By the way, this, also weird.

- Also weird. Yeah.
- Yeah.

- Not hiring you or you.

You couldn't stop staring
at my cleave, so no, ew.

Uh, hi. Museum's closed today.

- Hi, Shep Swiftwater.

Came down to apply
for the co-curator position.

- Oh, I don't see you
on my list.

- Well,
I'm a bit of an old dog.

I had some problems
with the online application,

so I thought
I'd just come down.

- Thank you.

All right, oh, you worked
at Denver Museum of Mankind.

- I did--full disclosure,

they will not have nice things
to say about me.

I kept pushing this crazy idea.

Indigenous people should
design Indigenous exhibits.

- [laughs]

- You know, I read about
all the changes that you made,

but this is real impressive.
- Thank you.

- And I can see that you pulled
from your thesis

on Native Reclamation.

- You read my thesis?
- I did.

- There's only, like,
eight people

to ever get through it,
and I paid four of them.

- When my cohorts and I

protested and occupied
universities

and demanded
our seats at the table,

we also dreamed that someday
people like you

would stand on our shoulders
and make change.

And it's just wonderful
to see destiny fulfilled.

- You're hired.

And thank you,
but you're hired.

And I love you. Be my dad?
[laughs]

Welcome aboard.

- This is where Terry said
to meet?

Feels kinda murdery.

- Big time.

[inquisitive music]

* *

- Deviled eggs?

- I assumed we were
attending a party,

and it's rude not
to bring a dish.

- Very thoughtful.

Nathan, I've come
with an opportunity.

Mayor Deirdre is stepping down.

There's going to be
a special election,

and I think you should run.

- Ha!

[chuckling]

What? No.

- Why not?

- Well, I'm kind of a joke
in this town.

I made an ass of myself
at your birthday.

Strangers are coming up to me
on the street,

calling me Popcorn Guy
because of that stupid podcast.

It's not a good time.

- People love
a redemption story.

Well, a white redemption story.

- I'm trying
to decenter myself.

This is my time to listen
and champion other voices.

- So that's your plan?

Lead an unexceptional life
and then just die?

Your ancestors
must be so proud.

- Uh, well, I don't actually
know who my ancestors are,

Terry, because your
last big master plan

kind of blew up my whole life.

- Nathan,
the town is in trouble.

Do you know a woman named
Feather Day?

- She owns that gym, Sweat.

She spoke at my school
on career day and was beautiful

and terrifying, like Maleficent
in a milk bath.

- My wife, Renee, owns
a jazzercise gym on our rez.

A few years ago, we opened
a second location in town.

Feather sullied my wife's name
and her exercise techniques.

The gym folded.

It took months for Renee
to pick up her tiny weights

and regain her confidence.

- Okay, not sure how that's
dangerous for the whole town.

- Feather attacks her enemies
like a snake.

And if she becomes mayor,
Rutherford Falls,

everything I fought for,

everything Reagan's fought for,
will be at risk.

Tomorrow, I'm throwing Deirdre
a going-away party.

All the local power players
will be there.

Come. Press some flesh,
see how it feels.

[plucky music]

[indistinct speech, laughter]

- Whatever they're saying,
I apologize in advance.

- How do you mean?

We're just discussing
this beautiful piece here.

- Did you know Minishonka

have been making pottery
for thousands of years?

- But we revitalized
the art form in the 1960s.

- Did I read the label I wrote?
Yes.

- She wasn't always like this.

Stress has just hardened
this woman.

- My auntie's a pretty
famous potter.

I could ask her to do a demo.

- I've been asking you
to connect us for months.

- Yeah, now that we have
a real curator, I'm gonna.

- My dear,
Reagan is more than qualified.

You know,
they're taking me out tonight

to celebrate my new job.
Care to join us?

- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,
Shep, you're cool, man,

but you gotta watch
the company you keep.

- Yeah, thank God
we're here to help you.

- Shep is everything
I could possibly hope for.

- So you admit
that I was right

when I said that
you would find someone great.

- I mean, sure.

You also said
I would love NASCAR

if I understood
what was happening.

- It combines speed and valor
and a little bit of faith.

But it's mostly driving.

- Anyway, I just wanted to tell
someone how good this feels.

Shep is awesome.

And he said I'm brilliant.

- Another thing
I was right about.

And that sounded like flirting,
which we agreed not to do

because we are just friends.

And this friend
is very happy for you.

- Thank you, friend.

- Angelina Jolie turns
to me and says,

"I'll donate my Fritz Scholder

if you streak with me
in the hills of Lyon."

- [laughs]
- And?

- Let's just say the painting
was in the exhibit.

- Oh, dirty dog.

- I can't imagine
my museum work

taking me all over the world.

- Hell, yeah.
Where are you from, Shep?

- Ooh, so many places.
Everywhere and nowhere.

I call myself a son
of Turtle Island.

- Mm.
- I love that. So deep.

- Yeah, but like
what part of the turtle?

Like, the arm or, like, yeah,
Florida, lower-right leg?

- Our people are nomads,
you know this.

No matter where they move us,

we belong to the land,
the sky, and the water.

- This man is dropping science
right now.

- Yeah, but, like,
what tribe are you?

- Well, I have heritage
with the Algonquin,

the Inuit, Mapuche,

and the Midwestern band
of Cherokee.

- Those tribes are hella
far away from each other.

- I've never heard
of Midwestern band before.

- But, you know,
I identify mostly

as a descendant of
the Potawatomi.

- Mm, descendant, cool.

I ascended from my mom,
who's Minishonka.

both: Same.

[tense music]

- Time for another round.

And when I get back, I'm gonna
tell you about the time

I took Steven Seagal
to his first ceremony.

Wha-chaw!
- Whoa.

[laughter]

- He definitely used
the D word, didn't he?

- Yeah, who descends?

And from, like,
18 different nations.

- You know who.

Reagan, did you hire
a pretendian?

- I can't believe Creator
would do this to me.

I still might
make out with him,

but I'm furious about it.

[lively jazz music]

* *

- The food looks amazing.

I'm so glad I skipped
my dad's birthday for this.

- This is the fanciest party
I've ever been to.

All the lights in here
have dimmers.

Not cheap.

- Well, lucky us.
How you been there, Frank?

- Pretty good.

Leased a Kia,
and I am the mayor.

Well, for now.
I'm the pointed mayor.

- Oh, you mean appointed?

- No, it already happened.

This guy pointed at me
and said, "You're the mayor."

So...

- And he was pointing at you?

- He was wearing a suit.

So I said,
"All right. Here we go."

- Okay, well,
good luck with that, buddy.

- Thanks, man. Have fun.

- You're probably right,
Nathan.

You don't have what it takes
to be mayor.

Luckily, we have Frank.

- [chuckles]

- Okay, I pulled the dossiers
I keep on all VIPs in town.

I stacked them
in order of importance.

- Oh, if we're going in order
of importance,

I think I know where to start.

- Okay, that's Peter Caplan,
the car wash king.

Petra Turner, town council.

Deirdre Chisenhall,
former mayor.

You two had sex twice.

- Oh, my God, Bobbie,
stand down.

- Nathan, hello.

- Hi, Deirdre.

Congratulations
on your big promotion.

I knew you were destined
for bigger things.

I'm really happy to see you.

I just--I want you to know

that I'm really,
really sorry that I--

- Left town and didn't
call me once?

- Yeah, that.

Really wanted to, a lot.

I just--I didn't like
who I was.

Anyway, seems like
I missed my chance.

I may never see you again.

- I don't know.

My brother Brian's house
sitting while I'm in Albany.

I'm pretty sure
he hacked my Nest cam.

It just shows him vacuuming
on a loop.

I don't buy it.
- Yeah, that sounds suspicious.

- I'll be going back and forth
to check in.

We might run into each other.

- Okay.
I'm really glad to hear that.

Let me ask you something.

What do you think
about me for mayor?

- Well, some say it's
the people you don't expect

who change the world.

Some say real change
comes from within.

The key is everyone's talking.

See what I mean?

- Wow, you just sounded
inspiring but said nothing.

- That's the job.

See you around, Popcorn Guy.

- Okay, Bobbie. I'm ready.

Let's press the flesh.
- Great.

Let's start with Principal Tom
because he is smashed.

- Okay.

- Ugh, I just wanted extra help
at the museum,

not to hire the Bernie Madoff
of Indian country, you know?

What's going on?
You're like, buffering.

- Yeah, I got hammered

with some Rutherford
power brokers last night.

Terry wants me
to run for mayor.

- What?
- Yeah.

- Okay, I thought you were
"decentering" or whatever.

- Well, I was, but Terry thinks
I can use my position

to help the town.
I don't know.

When he locks his eyes
on you, like,

what are you supposed to say?

- The man can stare.
- Right?

So I don't understand.
Why can't you just ask

Shep for his tribal ID?

- Oh, it's loaded.

Not everyone has one.

Some tribes use blood
quantum minimum, some don't.

Some aren't even
federally recognized.

Some tribal IDs go through
the washing machine

and then they're unusable.

- Why don't we check
our pockets?

- My point is,
genocide is messy.

I don't wanna be
the identity police.

It feels shitty.
- Then don't do it.

- But if he's a fraud,

and I let him work beside me
and shape

the voice of the museum,
that's unforgivable.

- If he is a pretendian,
then you gotta fire him.

- Yeah.
- In order to do that,

you have to be 100% sure
he's not who he claims to be.

How the hell
are you gonna do that?

[tense music]

- Sally said to come down here.

Everything okay?

- We'll be the ones
asking questions here, Shep.

- Have a seat.

- I created an online
straw poll

to see how you would fare

if the election
were held today.

- You can just whip that up?

- I collect data on which of
my makeup tutorials

people are most drawn to.

So when asked, "Would you vote
for Nathan Rutherford?"

52% of those polled said yes.

- You know, I always say polls
don't matter,

but this one sounds
super important.

Go on.
- That's nothing.

When asked, "Would you vote
for Popcorn Guy?"

Over 68% said yes.

And 40% of those people
wrote in,

"Dude,
that would be hilarious."

- Right, like, as a joke.

I'd be the joke mayor.

- You're hitting
the wrong word.

You'd be the joke mayor.

- Hmm.

That doesn't sound better.

- So, Shep,
your start paperwork

has a driver's license,
passport, but no tribal ID.

- Do you have proof
of your tribal status?

If that's okay to ask.
I mean, answer the question.

- I'm enrolled,
but wouldn't you know it,

I left my tribal ID in my jeans
and it went through the wash.

- Okay, that does happen.
You didn't think to replace it?

- We all know the red tape
involved

when dealing
with tribal governments.

- Uh, well, Shep.
[chuckles]

I checked your social media,
and you didn't have any.

Congrats.

You're the only Native man
in his 50s without a Facebook.

- Explain that, huh?

- I've lived in many cities,
and I've loved in even more.

I think it's best that
we keep my Facebook private.

- [sighs]
Baller defense.

He has been snagging aunties
left and right

since he got here.
- What?

- Pretty airtight.

- What doesn't make sense
is you, Wayne.

You claim to be full
Minishonka, and yet somehow,

you're able
to grow facial hair.

Makes for an interesting hiccup
in your bloodline, no?

And my dear Reagan.
- Please don't.

- You traipsed all the way
to Evanston, Illinois,

to get the Wasi'chu's approval

before you had
enough confidence

to speak about
your own culture.

That is, if you have
enough confidence now.

- Where we're trying
to get to is--

did you just speak Lakota?

- You both should know
that I'm connected

to many legacy
Native institutions.

I don't think you want the
reputation of lateral violence

towards elders
in those sacred circles.

- Maybe we do.

- No, we don't.

both: We don't.

- Okay, we need a new plan.

- Well, whenever I'm getting
questioned by police,

they like
to bring in the "bad cop."

- Yeah, that's what
you were supposed to be.

- Well, get somebody
badder than me.

[tense music]

* *

- Let's see him go up
against that stare.

- So you're not Native.

- I am. There was actually
a washing machines incident--

- No, no, no.

There are real Native people
out here

with deeply complex
identity stories.

But that's not you.

You take advantage of centuries
of violent displacement.

You hide in the cracks
of our trauma.

Feasting on opportunities.

How long have
you been pretending?

What started this game?

You got wait-listed at Amherst,

so you thought you could
sneak in the backdoor?

Compensate for your
hopeless mediocrity

by presenting as--
whatever this is.

And now you're here,

until you scurry back
to a more prominent museum,

where no one
in those white spaces

has the depth
to sniff out your fakery.

Do you fathom
the harm you cause us?

Can you, as you pick and choose
all the positives of who we are

without ever once experiencing
any of the hardships?

I want you to look at me
and tell me who you really are.

- Only my ancestors
can judge me.

- And those ancestors were?

- [voice strained]
White. So white.

Swedish, which is about
as white as you can get.

I'm just a white man
from Connecticut.

Sorry, I just--I'm--

- Leave your medallion
on the table

and get the hell out of here.

[Shep crying softly]

- Damn, Terry.
Never become a cop.

- Seriously, thank you.
- Anytime.

I'm sorry you weren't able
to hire any real support.

- Actually, I think I know
who I can hire.

He's kind of the worst,
but I'm 100% sure he's Native.

- I noticed that
you didn't fix any

of the problems
I mentioned, huh?

- It's been, like, two days,
Nelson.

But yes, you should
start on those first.

- Can do.
It's a real easy job anyway.

- You know there are better
restaurants, right?

- Are you kidding?

I've been waiting months
to eat these chicken riggies.

Oh yeah, just like Mom
used to make--

chewy and sitting out
for hours.

- Mm.

So what are you gonna do,
mayorally speaking?

- Well, you know,
I'm trying to find my purpose.

Which starts with doing
the work on myself.

And reading the books.

It's like, I don't need to be
in the center, but--

- You need to be somewhere.

- Yes, and Terry's like,
"Do this."

I don't know, maybe being
the mayor is my purpose?

Forget all that.

You, congratulations on
getting rid of your pretendian.

- Oh--
[laughs]

I wouldn't say that.
Check this out.

- "Hiding In Plain Sight:

My Life as a
Part-Time Pretendian"

by Shep Swiftwater,
AKA Wyatt Olson.

What the hell am I reading?

- AKA, "What started as a deep
appreciation for Native culture

spawned a double life of
jet-setting around the world."

- How did he turn that around?
- I don't know.

He's making himself sound
like a cool spy.

I swear, it's always people

with a ton of unearned
confidence that get things.

- So have you made a decision?
- I have.

Gonna be a hard pass.
I really wanna help.

I just don't wanna win
as a joke.

- Politicians win
by telling stories.

The Prodigal Son, The Gipper,
Obama's whole deal.

Feather Day will win
because she has a great story.

Strong Native woman,
self-made small business owner.

Your story, while embarrassing,
is strong.

- Terry, I think
I got a better one.

Bobbie.

- Don't be ridiculous.
They're still in high school.

- Well, they're 18.
And youth is exciting.

And they've done more
for this town

than people twice their age.

- I'm listening.

- A non-binary child
of immigrants,

born and raised
in Rutherford Falls.

And they're not
just a good story.

They've got the goods.

They've researched every mover
and shaker in this town.

They've got a great mind
for strategy.

And they know how
to sound inspiring

without actually
saying anything.

[knock at door]

- Hello, Bobbie.

We've come
with a wonderful opportunity.

- I'll do it.

- Okay, we haven't even
told you what it is.

- Sorry, I get excited
by intrigue,

but I'll definitely do it.

- * Oh *

[driving rock music]

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[pow wow ad lib]

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