Wahoo!

**Wahoo!** is the seventh episode of the third season and 25th episode overall of *Reservation Dogs*.

## Synopsis

Rita gets an unexpected visit from an old friend.

## Plot

Rita confirms a booking over the phone. She assures the person on the other side that they'll be the only entertainment. Clinton waits nearby for her to finish. Once she's done, Clinton says this is his least favorite part of the job. Rita is worried she's about to be fired, but he says she's being offered a promotion by two different clinics in community programming and event planning. She'll be getting an email soon. One is in Oklahoma City and the other in Albuquerque. She'll have to move, but it's a lot more money.

Rita tells Bev it'll be about twice the money and Bev thinks it's a no-brainer for her to go. Bev asks if her cousin can stay at Rita's place after she's gone, but Rita isn't so sure she's going. She's never left Okern before. Bev doesn't think her excuses are good enough because Bear's almost grown up anyway. Bev wants the same opportunity Rita has.

Bear is surprised to hear Rita come home early. He's home early, too, because they finished the roof they were working on, so Marc Don gave them a day off. He saw a recipe on TikTok that he wants to try to make for dinner.

Rita lies in bed and looks at the email on her phone. She startles when Cookie asks her what she's going to do. She asks if Cookie is a ghost and Cookie says she's a spirit. Rita can't believe she's real and leaves the room.

Rita goes into Bear's room and climbs into bed with him, saying she's not feeling well. She asks him to stay, but not ask any questions. He thinks she's acting weird and she says it's just some anxiety and a little depression. Bear gets off the bed to make a place for himself on the floor.

Rita goes back into her room and Cookie surprises her again. Rita thinks she's gone crazy, but Cookie says she's just visiting an old friend. Cookie thinks Rita must have known she was around, like when she almost married the wrong guy and heard Cookie's voice telling her not to do it. Rita asks what she wants. Cookie says she just wants Rita to see her. She's been waiting all morning for Rita to get back so they can play Wahoo. She hasn't played since she died.

Rita drives to the clinic. Willie Jack, who is with Fixico learning traditional medicine, calls out to her, so she goes to see them. Rita says she had a weird night, so Fixico has Willie Jack treat her. Willie Jack offers her a bag of Flamin' Flamers, which she says will cure Rita. Fixico agrees.

Rita dumps the Flamin' Flamers into her mouth as she approaches the desk. Bev says she looks hungover and thinks Rita celebrated without her. Rita says she's not hungover. She just had a rough night. She asks if Larry has any openings. She needs to see him. Bev says Rita has to have an appointment, even though she works there. She gives Rita a clipboard to fill out. Rita admits to Bev that she saw Cookie last night in her house, exactly as Rita remembered her. Bev takes the clipboard back and signs Rita in.

Larry is surprised to see Rita. It's Rita's first time there. He asks her what brings her in. Rita explains about the job offer and Larry thinks she felt imposter syndrome. She says no. She just started seeing her dead friend. Larry is shocked by that and thinks Rita must have just felt her presence. Rita says no, she was in her house. Larry says it's all in Rita's head. He once thought he saw Lou Diamond Phillips, but with therapy, he realized it was just a Hopi guy in town. His trauma made that connection. Larry starts to cry as he recalls it. Then he says they learn to work through their trauma. Lou Diamond Phillips wasn't really there. Rita isn't clear on how that connects to her. Larry says maybe she's the one who needs something. He has another appointment, so she has to leave. He squeezed her in.

Rita smokes out by her car.

Rita and Cookie start a game of Wahoo. Cookie wants to bet on it. If Cookie wins, Rita takes her where she wants to go. If Rita wins, Cookie will stop haunting her. Rita takes the deal. Cookie asks about Bear as she starts the game. Rita asks what Cookie is doing there. Cookie says maybe she's not really there and asks what Larry says. Rita says Larry didn't believe her, so she didn't push it. Cookie says it's because Rita already knows why she's there. Cookie asks about Bear again, which she says she's doing to make sure Rita knows. Rita says he's fine and doesn't remind her of Punkin anymore. He has a good job. Cookie says Bear sees spirits, too. Some families just can. Cookie asks about Elora. Rita says she doesn't see Elora much. Cookie says she should. Rita asks if Cookie hasn't seen her, hasn't seen all of them. Cookie says she's seen Big and Bev hooking up and acts out Big's noises. Rita doesn't want to play the game anymore and agrees to take Cookie wherever she wants.

Cleo delivers two orders of catfish to Rita. He says Bear also orders two meals when he comes. After he goes, Cookie tells Rita to offer the catfish to her, like an offering.

Rob and Cleo watch Rita from the counter and think she's talking to herself.

Rita offers the food to Cookie, who accepts it and starts eating. Rita asks if that's why Cookie came to visit, to eat catfish. Rob sits down and asks Rita if she's okay. He says he can call Bear or a doctor. Rita insists that she's fine, but Rob doesn't think that she is because he saw her talking to someone who wasn't there. He knows her pretty well because they used to date. Rita corrects that he took her to a dance in junior high. Rita tells him to let it go. He reluctantly leaves and Cookie and Rita start talking to each other again.

Rob tells Cleo he thought he and Rita were going to get married at one point.

Cookie says this was just extra because she wanted catfish, but she really does need Rita's help. She just didn't know how to ask. Cookie asks Rita to take her to her mom's. Rita says that's easy, but Cookie tells to wait before saying that.

Rita knocks on the door and Elora answers. Rita asks if she can come in and Elora says yes. She offers Rita a drink, but Rita declines, saying she just came to check something out. Elora asks what as she starts to clean up the living room. Rita asks Elora how things are. Cookie tells Rita to ask if she's happy, not if things are good, so Rita does. Elora says yes, she has no complaints. She asks if Rita is okay because she seems buggy. Rita sits down and tells Elora about the promotion and having to move to take it. She asks Elora not to tell Bear because she's not sure if she's going to take it. Elora's also figuring out what to do next. She's applying to college. Rita says her mom would be very proud. Cookie tells Rita to say more things like that. Rita says if Elora needs anything, her aunties are always there for her, like Cookie was always there for them. Elora appreciates that. She says she sometimes feels like Cookie is still around. She didn't know her at all, but she sometimes feels warmth, like she's there. Rita understands.

Rita gets back in her car and Cookie asks how hard that was. Rita could have done that any time she wanted and she didn't. She can talk to Elora anytime, but she doesn't Rita says she's trying, but it's hard to be a mom. Cookie has no idea because she didn't get to do that. Bear is grown now. Rita can do whatever she wants now. She can take the job in the city if she wants. Rita thinks Cookie has all the answers, but Cookie says she doesn't know anything. She'll be 20 forever. She just knows that Rita and the others should do things with their lives while they still can. She could never get Elora to hear her or see her. She's tried everything. She just wanted to tell Elora that she loves her and will always be there for her, but she's not really. She's not really here or really there. She starts to cry.

Bear is cooking when Rita comes in. He knows he messed up the recipe, but he wants to try it again if she's up for it. He thinks he knows where he went wrong. Rita asks Bear to tell her about California. Bear says he wasn't lying. It really was Deer Lady. Rita knows that. She wants to know about Daniel.

Rita goes to Bev and says they have to do something for Cookie. Bev says she'll make another appointment with Larry, but Rita says Cookie is watching them. Bev asks for proof, so Rita acts out how Big acts during sex. Bev asks what they need to do.

Rita, Bev, and Natalie drive out to a bridge. "COOKIE WAZ HERE" is spray painted on the side. Rita says they're going to tell their sister they love her and it's okay to go because they never did before. Bev adds that she can stop watching over them so much. Rita brought "Cookie's Hot Mix" to send with her. Rita thinks they should say something before throwing it in. Bev starts by saying the world isn't the same without her. No one had Bev's back like she did, but Rita and Natalie come pretty close. Rita throws the cassette into the water and they watch it float away. Rita tells Bev and Natalie she's going to take the job. Bev asks for Rita's phone so she can make her a Tinder profile. Rita says no. And it'll be up to Bear if he goes with her. Bev and Natalie promise to look after him if he chooses to stay. Rita says they need to watch out for Elora, too.

## Cast

### Starring

* Devery Jacobs as Elora Danan Postoak
* D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai as Bear Smallhill
* Paulina Alexis as Willie Jack Sampson

### Guest Starring

* Sarah Podemski as Rita Smallhill
* Jana Schmieding as Bev
* JaNae Collins as Cookie Postoak
* Macon Blair as Rob
* Evan Adams as Larry

### Co-Starring

* Warren Queton as Clinton
* Darryl W. Handy as Cleo
* Richard Ray Whitman as Old Man Fixico
* Nathalie Standingcloud as Natalie