Pilot

**Pilot** is an episode from the first season of *United States of Al* that aired on April 1, 2021.

## Synopsis

In Columbus, Ohio, Marine combat veteran Riley, who served in Afghanistan, and his younger sister Lizzie reunite at the airport with Riley's interpreter Awalmir, who goes by "Al", who will spend his first weeks in the United States living in their garage. After learning Riley is going through a divorce with his wife Vanessa, Al meets Riley's father Art, who is also a veteran. At night, Al is pulled over for driving too slow and is let go with a warning by a police officer who is also a Marine. The next day, Al sets up a reunion between Riley and Vanessa, where they drink tea and talk about their failed marriage. In a flashback to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2011, Al yells at Riley for giving him a gun without bullets.

## Cast and Characters

### Main

* Adhir Kalyan as Awalmir
* Parker Young as Riley
* Dean Norris as Art
* Elizabeth Alderfer as Lizzie
* Kelli Goss as Vanessa
* Farrah Mackenzie as Hazel

## Trivia

* This is the series premiere of *United States of Al*.
* This is the first episode to air in 2021 in the United States.
* On Thursday, April 1, 2021, when *United States of Al* was added to CBS's primetime lineup at 8:31/7:31c, this was the first episode to be broadcast on CBS in the United States.

## Quotes

*[First lines of the series]*
**Lizzie**: How do you say "We're so happy to see you" in-- What is the language there? Afghanistanish?
**Riley**: Uh, it's Pashto. And I only know a few phrases.
**Lizzie**: Like?
*[Riley speaks Pashto language.]*
**Lizzie**: Which means?
**Riley**: Please, god. Get me out of here.
**Lizzie**: So you can say that and not "We're so glad you're here!"?
**Riley**: Lizzie, the whole time I served in Afghanistan, I never heard anyone say, "We're so glad you're here!". We should've brought him a welcome gift. When I went back for my second tour, he was waiting for me on the tarmac with a pot of pacha.
**Lizzie**: Ooh, is that something you eat or smoke?
**Riley**: It's a traditional Afghan breakfast soup made of sheep's hooves.
**Lizzie**: Seriously?
**Riley**: I know, it sounds more like a lunch food, doesn't it? Al's mom used to make it for us.
**Lizzie**: Aw. Are you gonna cry when you see him?
**Riley**: Marines don't cry, Lizzie.
**Lizzie**: They don't, huh?
**Riley**: No. Those babies in the Air Force cry when their sunglasses get smudged. There he is, there he is. Al, over here!
**Al**: Hi. Oh, my friend. I'm so happy to see you.
**Riley**: I was worried you weren't gonna make it.
**Al**: Me, too. But you found a way.
**Lizzie**: Hi, Al.
**Al**: Lizzie. It is so good to finally meet you.
**Lizzie**: Thank you for keeping my brother safe. Oh, thank you!
**Al**: Oh, look at this. Today, we are all in the Air Force.

**Al**: Vanessa, having tea is an important part of my culture. It facilitates dialogue, even among the most bitter enemies. During the war, Riley and I would do this to try to resolve disputes.
**Vanessa**: I get that, Al, but I just really don't think this is gonna help us.
**Riley**: Yeah, I already told him that.
**Vanessa**: Oh, shut up.
**Al**: Of course, in Afghanistan, we were mostly dealing with murderous warlords. This is my first time working with a married couple.
**Vanessa**: Well, we won't be married for long.
**Riley**: Why'd you even come here? I mean, don't you have anything better to do?
**Vanessa**: I came out of respect for the guy who saved your life.
**Riley**: You came to punish me.
**Vanessa**: I don't have to punish you, Riley. You punish yourself.
**Al**: I have to tell you both, I am missing the warlords right now. Vanessa, why don't you tell me what you think went wrong with your marriage?
**Vanessa**: Oh, Al, I don't even know where to start. I mean, the mood swings, the drinking. He won't go get help. He refused to go to counseling. I just had enough.
**Al**: Okay, thank you. I have only been here one day, but I have also seen the mood swings and the drinking.
**Riley**: Hey. Whose side are you on?
**Al**: I am in the middle. Look. This is on purpose.
**Vanessa**: I'm sorry, but I'm done trying to raise my daughter with a guy who I can't trust.
**Al**: I understand that, too. When I met Riley, I did not trust him either. And I was right not to trust him. Did you know the first time he gave me a gun, he did not put bullets in it?
**Vanessa**: You're kidding.
**Al**: I am not, and I discovered this in the middle of a firefight.
**Riley**: I had to know you weren't gonna shoot me.
**Al**: And in that moment, when I was clicking away and nothing was coming out, I really wanted to. The point is, we did not trust each other then. But we do now. Trust is earned.
**Vanessa**: Well, he's got a long way to go.
**Al**: Oh, I agree.
**Vanessa**: Right now, he's at zero with me.
**Al**: Oh. Zero is good. I would not have gone that high.
**Vanessa**: But I do like you.
**Al**: You know what's funny? The warlords also liked me and not him. Vanessa, you are as wonderful a woman as Riley always said. I'm so glad we finally got to meet.
**Vanessa**: Me, too.
**Riley**: Excuse me. But, we haven't resolved a thing here.
**Al**: No, but we are talking, which is a good first step. If the two of us could learn a language he does not know, that might be helpful for the future.
**Vanessa**: I speak a little French.
**Al**: Ah. Moi aussi.
**Riley**: I can learn French.
**Al**: Just drink your tea.
**Vanessa**: So, what other nice things did he say about me?
**Al**: Where do I begin? Your hair, your eyes, your laugh...
**Riley**: Oh, come on!