This Is Us

Previously on This is Us...

You took the sourest lemon

that life has to offer.

and turned it into something resembling lemonade.

I'm starting to feel like

you attaching yourself to something that's not

a calculated act is just too much

for your empty human shell to handle.

And that's our cue to leave.

Where'd they go? Uh, they left.

My car!

Is that Sloane in your bed?

Hey, Kate.

- You're so pretty. - Thank you, baby.

Well, if I'm pretty, you're pretty, 'cause we look alike.

I've got to get a handle

on myself, on the weight, and on all of it.

I need that more than anything right now, and I want it.

I want it more than anything right now.

Even more than me?

You and William have known each other

for Randall's entire life, and you kept that from him?

You kept that secret for 36 years.

That must have been incredibly lonely.

No. Not yet.

I'll see you at Christmas.

Did we overdo it?

It's like a toy factory under there.

I'm not really sure what kind of message that sends.

That we have three kids and I work really hard.

It's fine.

Mom, are we going caroling?

Yes, we will.

Hey, Kate,

stop counting presents.

Mommy, my tummy hurts.

I bet it does.

I saw that open package of cookies

in the kitchen that was supposed to be for Santa's stomach,

- and not yours. - Pow, pow, pow!

- Hey, stop horsing around! - Guys.

Mom, Kevin took my money from Grandma.

No, I didn't. It's over there on the table.

Why do you even care?

- You're too cheap to spend anything. - Kev.

When we're older,

I'll be rich.

And you won't have anything,

and you'll have to live in a box.

Enough money talk.

You guys realize that Christmas is not just

about presents and getting things, right?

You guys know that.

Hey, why don't you guys

tell your mother what Christmas is about, huh?

Please.

It's about Jesus stuff.

"Jesus stuff."

That's it. We are going to church.

Probably a good idea.

Yes. We're going.

My tummy really hurts.

Baby, that is not getting you out of church.

We'll go caroling when we get back.

I don't know, babe.

She-she's really burning up.

Mommy, I'm scared.

I know, baby, I know, but everything's gonna be fine.

I promise you.

You're gonna be asleep,

and they take out appendixes every day here.

It's like... pulling a tooth.

But that hurts.

Yeah, that was a terrible example.

Um, can you stop for a second?

I have an idea.

Uh, everyone hold hands. I'll be right back.

Come on, guys, hands.

Hey, baby.

This branch-- do you see this branch?

This branch has Christmas magic on it.

Nothing bad ever happens on Christmas Eve.

Say it.

Nothing bad happens on Christmas Eve.

Now, I'm gonna hold on to this for you,

and when you wake up,

all of us are gonna be waiting for you, and guess what.

It's gonna be Christmas.

- Okay. I love you. - Thanks, guys.

I love you.

Thanks.

Good Mommy.

Yeah.

- Okay. - Kev?

Bud?

Kev?

Hold on a sec, bud. Thanks, guys. Sorry.

It's scary, but she's gonna be okay, I promise you.

I think we're gonna be here for a little bit,

so why don't I go try and find us some good snacks.

I worked in this hospital 40 years.

I know you have a stash of decent blankets.

Dr. K?

I thought I recognized that voice.

Oh, hey, you.

Yeah, it's been a while.

Nine years.

Ooh.

What's... happening? What's all this about?

I was rushing to get to the airport, hit some ice.

Wrapped my old LeSabre around a lamppost.

- Ooh. - How about you?

You just come for the food?

No. Uh, our little Kate...

appendectomy.

Oh, no.

And on Christmas Eve.

Well, don't worry about it; it's routine stuff these days.

Yeah, thank you. I know.

Where is your family?

They on their way?

Uh, Montana; that's where we go.

I mean, they're-they're trying, but weather being what it is,

they wouldn't get here in time to say good-bye anyway.

Good-bye?

I don't, I don't really understand.

You seem okay.

Yeah, well... it's internal.

A slow hemorrhage between the heart and a lung.

Can't they operate?

Well, I'm sure they'll try,

but don't let this flattering

hospital lighting fool you, Rebecca, I'm old.

And the odds of digging around in me

without causing either a massive stroke or a bleed-out

are close enough to zero to pass for it in any math I know of.

No, come on. Th-They're gonna fix him.

I don't know, Jack.

Who's Dr. K?

Uh, he's the doctor who delivered Kevin and Kate.

If it weren't for him, we never would have found you.

So he's kind of responsible for our family.

And tonight... we're gonna be his.

Thank you.

It's not just a coincidence.

The only reason you delivered our kids

was because our doctor's appendix burst,

and now Kate's appendix brought us all back here.

On Christmas Eve, of all nights.

You trying to wax poetic on me?

I'd rather you wax that mustache.

'Cause if your musings on the great circle of life

are gonna be the last things I ever hear,

dear God, take me now.

You're not going anywhere, okay?

Y-You're gonna be fine.

And, Jack, I am very excited that you became a doctor

in the years since we talked, but you don't have to say that.

You said it so many times to us.

From the looks of things, I was right.

Yeah.

Are you scared?

Rebecca.

Scared?

Of the great beyond?

Well, now, I-I am on quite a bit of morphine here,

so that does have to be taken into account,

but, uh... no.

I guess I would say curious.

I remember the first time I walked up

on the edge of the Grand Canyon.

It's been pretty well talked up,

so my expectations were mighty high.

But still, it, uh...

it did not disappoint.

Not a bit.

Mount Rushmore I could take or leave.

No, I mean it.

If the great beyond is no more impressive

than the oversized mugs of four old white men,

hell, I can see that in my Wednesday golf group.

If I want to pray, which one works the best?

Well, in the end,

I'd say they all get the job done just fine.

So the old man is nearly gone at this point.

And I'm there with his wife,

and their kids are crying,

you know, just waiting for the end.

The guys says, barely above a whisper--

I mean, you can hardly hear him--

"Let me go. I want to go."

Well, his wife is... in tears,

and leaning over him,

and she says, "Yes, go, my love.

We'll be okay. You can go."

The old man wheezes out, "No, I can't.

You're standing on my damn catheter."

Hey, sweetheart.

Do you want to come in?

I take it you're Randall.