White Man in the Cupboard

**White Man in the Cupboard** is the first episode of the second season and the 11th overall episode of **Rutherford Falls**.

## Short Summary

Everyone must adjust to big changes as the town turns into a Colonial-themed tourist experience.

## Full Summary

Josh starts recording his podcast about Nathan.

Reagan listens to the podcast as she straightens items in the cultural center.

Josh talks about Rutherford Falls being transformed into a colonial-themed tourist experience. The real question he has, though, is where Nathan is. Nathan has vanished and not replied to requests for comment. Josh hopes wherever he is, he's found his place in the world.

As the podcast ends, Bobbie comes in to tell Reagan they've arrived.

Outside, Reagan welcomes a group of kids, led by Ms. Fish, to the new Minishonka Cultural Center and Northeast Regional Historical Exhibition Museum.

Reagan shows the group a baby board, still used by the Minishonka to hold their babies while keeping their hands free. Next, she tries to show them moccasins, but it's just a placeholder as the real ones haven't arrived yet. Then she and Bobbie act out a fight scene and Reagan explains that Lawrence Rutherford did end the great possum infestation of 1912, but he would have lost if it weren't for the Minishonka's knowledge of wildlife. Bobbie says they'd all be dead without the Minishonka.

At the end of the tour, Reagan asks if there are any questions. One kid asks why the cultural center isn't on Indian land and when she will decolonize the oppressive museum space. Reagan says the concept of a museum is European, so it's impossible to decolonize, but they're going to reclaim it and make it their own. Plus they're building a museum on the reservation, but it won't be done for a year. Plus, all the land is Indian land. Ms. Fish asks if Nathan knows Reagan touched his stuff. Also, she wants to know where Nathan is. Reagan says, as she has for every tour for the last two months, that she doesn't know where Nathan is. He's taking space and they're giving it to him. Bobbie then offers astronaut ice cream to the kids, throwing it out the door for them to grab.

Reagan shows Renee that she made the slideshow for Terry's birthday party and timed it to play for the whole party. Renee says that Terry hates surprises so a surprise party will catch him off guard. Reagan's watch beeps and she says she needs to get to her next appointment. Then a chime reminds her she also needs to meditate. She's trying out chunks of self-care, but it's been stressful. Renee understands. That's why she wakes up at 3:45 AM every morning and from then until Terry wakes up at 4:15, that's Renee's time. Another chime says meditation time is over. This one wasn't very effective. Renee gives Reagan more photos to add, even though it's past the deadline. As Renee sends them, Bobbie says they need to speak to Reagan urgently. Once Renee is gone, Bobbie says there's a ghost in the building. They keep hearing sounds. Reagan wishes there were a ghost because she could use some help. Her watch chimes again and she tells it to stop yelling at her. Bobbie asks for her thoughts about the ghost. She tells them there's no ghost and says just to do their job.

At the casino, Terry explains to Reagan that they've completed phase four, subphase eight of the plan. Now things really heat up. Reagan is overwhelmed with information, which he says it's because she's not used to being a high-performing individual. He asks how much water she drinks, but she says it's not about water. Terry wants her to drink more and hands her a comically large water bottle. He'll also send her some articles. She tells him what she really needs is more help because she's doing the work of three people. He insists that the water will solve her problems.

Wayne and Sally show Bobbie the ghost-hunting equipment they've brought with them. Wayne says ghosts are serious business, especially in a place like this. Bobbie questions what they mean and Sally explains that there are a lot of white ghosts there pissed off because Indians have occupied the space. But Wayne says they brought a bunch of their sacred items to lure them out. He shows Bobbie a "Cheers" DVD, a $9 bottle of chardonnay, and Malcolm Gladwell books. Bobbie left out grilled, unseasoned chicken as bait as they requested. They show Wayne and Sally the plate, but it's empty. Wayne holds up the DVD and asks the spirit to show itself.

As they walk through town, Terry says every visit takes his breath away and asks Reagan if she feels it, too. Reagan just feels nauseous from all the faux-patriotism. Terry explains that this is how they'll get their land back. Someday, it'll be as popular as Times Square. Feather Day approaches them and asks who Terry things he is, shoving all the old-timey colonizer crap down their thoughts. As a proud Minishonka woman, it isn't their way. Terry tries to explain how it will benefit all of them, but Feather interrupts and says she runs a gym called Sweat. She looks at Reagan as she says the first session is free and they have a generous referral program. Reagan says she's good. Sweat was a great name, but no one wants to set foot in Ye Olde Sweat. Arnold adds that no one wants to eat at Ye Olde Soup Depot. Terry says it's just branding. Arnold says they should be free to call their businesses whatever they want. Feather hears that Terry's plans are infringing on their freedom. Terry tries to placate her, but Arnold and another business owner say they like freedom. Terry says soon, they'll all have a lot of money and he doesn't want them to sweat the small stuff. Feather says she has the right to sweat whatever she wants because that is America. She says it's not over and calls Arnold to follow her as she leaves.

Wayne, Sally, and Bobbie use the ghost-tracking tools to look for the ghost. Bobbie steps ahead of them and slowly opens the door ahead. When a shaggy-haired, bearded figure appears, Bobbie punches several times, knocking it to the ground. Wayne says it's not a ghost. It's a pervert and tells them to kick it. Before they can do that, Reagan comes in and tells them to stop. It's just Nathan. Nathan meekly says hi.

Bobbie gives Nathan some ice with instructions from WebMD. Bobbie wants to know what's going on. Nathan says it'll take time to sort through the nuance, but Reagan just says he came back two months ago embarrassed about how he acted and the podcast, so he hid in the attic. Bobbie asks what he's been doing up there. Nathan says he's been working on himself. He read White Fragility, then a book about how White Fragility is bad, then a third book called "White 'White Fragility' Fragility" about how white people are super fragile about the book White Fragility. It's been a journey for him and for Reagan via text. He's almost ready to re-join society. He just has to nail his reentry. People think he's a selfish jerk and they're not wrong. He has to apologize and make sure people know he's grown and changed. He's thinking July, which is ten months away. Bobbie asks if he's just going to hide away alone until then. Reagan says he hasn't been alone. She's spent what little free time she has with him. In exchange, he's been helping her check items off her to-do list. Bobbie knew she couldn't do it all on her own. Bobbie's upset that Reagan took all the credit for that and because Nathan ghosted them. Nathan knows he owes Bobbie an apology. They'll get one with everyone else in July. Reagan says or maybe now. Nathan decides to give it a try. He starts to read off his rough draft, but Bobbie forgives him before he can say much and hugs him.

Terry tells Al he knows the financials aren't a home run, but wants to know where they stand. Al says it's bad. Business has gone down at the rebranded shops. Terry bet on Americana at the exact moment in history when the American brand is in the dumpster. Terry says it's temporary. Everyone will be back on board with America soon. Al's less sure. Terry's still confident they'll rebound. Al hopes that's true. Terry takes an energy shot out of a box and drinks it.

Reagan pulls out a slip to choose the evening's movie. Nathan's still riding the high of Bobbie forgiving him. He wonders if he should do the big apology now instead of waiting. Reagan says he should. She goes to call to order their food and finds she has 140 new messages. The cultural center was her dream, but it's slowly killing her. Her eye twitch is back. Nathan tries to get her to relax and she agrees. Nathan asks how he should dress for his reentry, but then realizes that's not her responsibility. She likes him taking care of his own business and then informs him that he'll have to add 40 more photos to Terry's birthday slideshow.

Nathan says his apology has to be perfect. Bobbie takes notes as Nathan talks about what he wants. Nathan asks if Bobbie's really okay helping him even though they're not his assistant anymore. Bobbie says yes because they're still friends, which goes both ways. Nathan brainstorms what makes the best apology. He had a draft, but is starting fresh. He has a grand idea, but Bobbie reminds him that his budget is only $50 and suggests he start with making amends. Nathan says he should just stand in the middle of the square and let everyone he's wronged insult him or physically punish him. Bobbie warns him that it'll seem like he's into that. Only James Corden has returned Bobbie's calls about celebrity inclusion, but Bobbie warns that Nathan doesn't want that. Nathan wishes it could be like with Bobbie, so natural. They both felt like they were just being. Nathan wonders if they just cracked it.

Renee gives directions as people get the party ready. She spots Reagan walking in and says she's glad Reagan is there as there's still so much to do. Reagan thinks she has it handled, but when pushed, offers her help. Renee asks her to decorate the cake.

Nathan says he's been helping Reagan plan Terry's party for weeks and the guest list is the who's who of Rutherford Falls. The elite of the elite. It's the perfect opportunity for a mass apology. Nathan will sneak in and hide before emerging like a butterfly. Bobbie leaves Nathan to go inside.

Terry is on the phone as he walks in. He says he needs to get off the phone for his own safety as he's heading into dinner with his wife. He enters the room and is surprised by the party. then Renee has the DJ turn on "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" for them to dance to.

In the kitchen, Reagan can hear the party, which sounds fun, but she's decorating the cake, so she can't be part of it. As she turns, she knocks over her water jug onto the cake. Wayne says she's supposed to drink it, not ruin cakes with it. She didn't think she'd be coming to the party to do more work. Wayne feels the same way. Renee asked him to decorate the cake, but he refused. Reagan's surprised he can just do that. He says he does it all the time. He's not the only one who can do things, so he just says no. Reagan asks if that's why never looks stressed. She thought he was just high all the time. Wayne says it's that, too. It makes sense. That's what setting a boundary is. Reagan asks if he can help fix the cake. He says she knows what he'll say.

Terry and Renee continue their dance as Nathan watches from his hiding place. Bobbie comes in and says he talked to the DJ, who will take the spotlight off Terry once the song is finished and put it on Nathan instead, then play the video. Everyone will know it's Nathan's moment. Nathan realizes he's about to make a terrible mistake. He's about to do everything he vowed he wouldn't. He sends Bobbie to tell the DJ. Bobbie gestures at the DJ, but the DJ doesn't understand. As Renee is about to jump into Terry's arms, Nathan's video starts to play on the screen. Nathan jumps up and says there was a mixup. The video was old Nathan. This is new Nathan. The video says the same thing, so Nathan says he's Nathan 3.0. He knows he shouldn't be centering himself this way. The video says the same thing. Bobbie is struggling to turn the video off. Terry says it's his birthday. Nathan knows and starts to apologize, but Terry says he wants to watch the rest of the video. Bobbie plays the video. As video Nathan explains that he wants to share his knowledge, like a guru, Reagan says Nathan also ruined the cake.

Nathan tries to say it wasn't his intention, but he knows that doesn't matter, so he tells Terry he's sorry for the impact it had on Terry. He wants Terry to say something. Terry says he's been stressed out all week and it was hilarious to watch Nathan drown. His life, while hard, isn't that. He accepts Nathan's apology. Nathan offers some advice that Terry once gave him, that all this stuff will work itself out. Nathan admits that it didn't work for him, but he thinks it'll be better for Terry. He tells Terry to look around.

Renee and Terry approach Reagan. Renee asks for Reagan's help with the guest book. She wants everyone to snap a photo, glue it to a page, and write a favorite Terry memory. She wonders if Reagan can wrangle some people for her. Reagan, taking Wayne's advice, says, "Nah, man." She also tells Terry she's going to hire a curator and he's going to pay for it. Then she wishes him a happy birthday.

Reagan brings Nathan a drink. He says it was a great night. He just wanted people to know he's changed, but it came off more as him saying he's not a villain. Maybe he's not a good guy. Maybe he's just a guy, he says, right as Reagan says maybe he's just some asshole. Everything she's been doing has been useless. They just need to accept that they're both just assholes, rolling around on a planet filled with other assholes. Maybe then they could feel good about themselves. They toast to that.

Terry greets Deirdre Chisenhall. He tells her he's having trouble with the Main Street business leaders. Deirdre says it's on brand that he's angling at his own birthday party. Terry says if everyone embraces Ye Olde, they'll attract more visitors. Deirdre stops him and says as of tomorrow, she'll be the interim state comptroller. It's a huge step up. Terry says the town will have to elect a new mayor. Deirdre's not surprised he's doing the math. Terry realizes the importance of securing a candidate who will bolster his plans. He has to go find the next mayor.

## Cast

* Nathan Rutherford
* Terry Thomas
* Reagan Wells
* Bobbie Yang
* Josh Carter
* Deirdre Chisenhall
* Peggy Fish
* Sally (right)
* Wayne
* Renee Thomas
* Feather Day
* Al
* Arnold (right)
* Local Business Owner (left)
* DJ
* Land Back Kid
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### Main Cast

* Ed Helms as Nathan Rutherford
* Michael Greyeyes as Terry Thomas
* Jana Schmieding as Reagan Wells
* Jesse Leigh as Bobbie Yang
* Dustin Milligan as Josh Carter

### Guest Stars

* Dana L. Wilson as Deirdre Chisenhall
* Beth Stelling as Ms. Fish
* Julia Jones as Sally
* Bobby Wilson as Wayne
* Kimberly Guerrero as Renee Thomas
* Kaniehtiio Horn as Feather Day
* Al Madrigal as Al

### Co-Starring

* Thomas Paul DeTrinis as Arnold
* Kurt Koehler as Local Business Owner
* Nick Hart as DJ
* Talon Proc Alford as Land Back Kid
* Shannon Morris-Kornacki as Auntie Donna

## See Also

 **#02** | "The New Curator"
 **#03** | "Aunt Sue"
 **#04** | "Land Back"