Shrinking

And though we are sad to lose her,

we can be joyful in the knowledge that her soul is at peace.

Now, I'd like to read an excerpt from the benediction.

"Our help is in the name of the lord who made heaven and earth."

- Hey, Liz. - Hey, babe.

How're you doing?

Shit, I don't know. I'm okay.

I'm at Maya's funeral paying my respects, but…

…trying to give everybody some space and just, you know, stay inconspicuous.

Well, that's impossible.

You're a gorgeous six-foot-tall woman who dresses like human funfetti.

Well, I am in all black today, but my underwear's neon green

and there's a snake eating a tiger across my ass 'cause I got to do me.

Of course you do. And you're perfect.

Any more news?

Yeah, a toxicology report tested positive for alcohol and Xanax in her system

with oxycontin to boot.

And we still don't know if it was an accident or not. They may never…

Shit. Hey, Liz, someone saw me. They're waving me over.

Just pretend you're there seeing someone else.

What? Okay.

You're being real quiet.

You doing something weird?

I sure am.

All right.

- I love you. - Love you.

- How's she doing? - You know Gaby.

She's stronger than all of us.

I don't know. I'm pretty strong.

Please. Your heart barely works.

I had to help you off the toilet this morning.

Well, that's true. I got winded wiping.

- Brian. - Yeah.

Why did you bring Sutton here today?

It's my nanny day. I was going to your house.

No reason. Trying to make your life easier.

Just, you know, me being a good person.

- None of that tracks. - He's the worst.

But who cares. I just want to eat you up.

- Yeah. - Wish she'd do that to me.

Lately there's been no skin-to-skin contact,

if you know what I mean.

Yes, sadly I do know what you mean.

The doctor said you can't have sex for eight weeks.

"Six to eight", okay? And I've done the math.

You either owe me 16 you-on-the-bottoms or four you-on-the-tops.

I am never getting married.

Look at your little Jordans. I love them.

- Everyone's been so supportive… - look at these.

…of Matthew's sneaker hustle.

- Thank you guys so much. - Yes, absolutely.

Are you kidding? I love my new sneakers.

I've been getting hit on so much.

This woman at the coffee shop would not stop staring at me.

I think that's because you stole her coffee.

No. Angela is my coffee shop name.

- That's not true. - It's true.

I was tired of people calling me, "brain."

You know what, Angela does suit you better.

Let's call him Angela from now on.

How you like that, brain?

When I was a kid working at bellevue,

whenever we lost someone,

my supervisor would gather us together so that we could process it emotionally.

And then he'd have each of us say how lucky we were to have each other.

Wow, you'd actually do that?

No, I pretended I had to go take a pee,

but I do remember feeling like having that community

helped me get through it.

Look, I went over all of your notes.

There's nothing that you should've done differently.

I know.

I'm sorry. I know you really cared about her.

Yeah, thanks for that. You encouraged me to get closer to my patients,

but you didn't warn me how much more it would hurt if things went south.

I thought that was sort of implied.

Just know that we're aware how hard this must be,

and that we're here for you.

Well, I'm here for you.

Paul apparently has a pickup game to get to.

Liz's big, weird son hooked me up. You're just jealous.

Yes, I've always regretted throwing away my slime shoes.

All right, gentlemen. Feels like this meeting is over.

Hey, if you need some time, I'm happy to cover your patients.

Thanks, but I got it.

- Okay. - Good. Back on the horse.

That's the way we honor the people we lose.

You guys are the best. Love you.

What?

I thought of something funny, but now's not the time.

- Go for it. - No.

- Come on. I need a laugh. - Say it, Jimmy.

Okay. You have dead patient face.

- Jesus. - What?

What the hell is wrong with you?

I was trying to be funny. I thought that it might lighten the mood.

- My god. - 'Cause of dead wife face.

I'm going to hell, aren't I?

Yeah.

See ya there.

God, it is so crazy.

It feels like yesterday I was dropping you off for preschool,

and now you're getting ready to graduate.

Hey, why didn't you tell me you were voted "most resilient"?

Because I hate it.

It was me and some kid who lost his finger to a firework.

I got voted "white Michael Jordan."

I was really good at basketball.

And it was a different time.

- Hey, you're back. - Hey, yeah, hi.

- Hey. Yeah. - Thank you.

- Hey. - Hey. Yeah.

I left my, jacket, wallet and keys here

the other night after your dead mom's birthday party.

You could just say "mom."

Really? It's not too soon to be that familiar?

Okay. Mom. Cool.

Nice.

I would've brought you your stuff.

Well, I didn't want to seem thirsty.

Anyway, that was fun the other night.

It's a pretty weird first date?

It was such a weird first date.

- Yeah. - That wasn't a date.

There were too many people there.

An actual date needs to be just the two of you.

Alone. Maybe at a restaurant.

I mean, there would be people there too…

- …right? The patrons. - Yes.

Waiters.

Maybe a restaurant critic?

In disguise.

Scribbling madly. In a notebook.

- But we are on to him. - So on to him.

Can this be over now?

Sure. For now.

But, you know, she is right. We haven't had an official first date.

So, how about dinner tomorrow night at my house?

It's a date.

Finally.

Well, thank you for finding my stuff.

Just feel like I keep losing things.

- It's really good to see you. Okay. - Yeah, you too.

- Bye, see you tomorrow. - Yeah,

- I'll see you tomorrow. Okay. - Bye.

- Yeah. - Yeah.

She's pretty cool right?

Yeah, I do really like her.

I kind of think mom's making her shit disappear.

Fuck.

- Hey. - Hey.

I thought it might cheer you up

to take a culinary trip through your old neighborhood, in long beach.

I got chili cheese fries from that very dirty place

- across the street from your high school. - Noice.

And a peppermint stick in a pickle from the gas station near your mom's house…

- Hell yeah. - …Which,

I can't believe I'm saying this, is actually pretty bomb.

The best part is when you burp a few days later, you can still taste it.

Look, babe, this is really sweet, but I don't really feel like eating…

So… I think I'm on that depression diet…

- Right, yeah. - …For a few days.

Well, how about this?

How about you and I cuddle up on the couch

- and watch some lord of the rings? - Pronounce it right.

- My bad. Lord of the rangs. - That's right.

Yeah. Not tonight, babe.

She said no to lord of the rangs? That's her happy place.

I know. Anyway, she's struggling, so… can you guys keep an eye on her?

- Absolutely. - I'll deal with this.

I've handled the death of a patient before and surprisingly, you have not.

I know, it really is amazing, isn't it?

Don't jinx me.

- Thanks for coming by, Derrick. - Absolutely.

It really is sweet how much you care about her.

Actually before all this went down,

I was planning to propose.

Nice.

And when were you planning on asking for my approval?

Asking you for your approval?

Is he serious right now?

I believe he is, yes.

Okay. Well, Paul, if it's okay with you,

I'd love permission to marry your coworker.

That would make me very happy.

- Hell yeah. - Wow.

- Wow, wow, wow, wow. - Right?

Sorry, I think I'm just in an emotional place.

I have a first date tonight.

Made this about himself real quick.

He always does.

It was so nice of you to tidy up, Ava.

And you did laundry too? Wow.

How fun that my perfectly-fitting blended fabric t-shirts

got to tumble with your cotton separates.

Just my way of saying thank you for letting me crash here

- for the last few weeks. - Come on. We are happy to help.

And I know it's been taking me a while to find a new job, and a new place,

so, until then, I will do all the housework around here.

- Then stay as long as you want. - Our home is your home.