Wide Net

The aunties attend an IHS conference

**Wide Net** is the fifth episode of the second season and thirteenth episode overall of *Reservation Dogs*.

## Synopsis

The Aunties let loose while at their yearly IHS conference.

## Plot

*Cookie drags her boombox and then puts "Cookie's HOT Mix" into it. She, Teenie, Bev, Rita, and Natalie all dance. Teenie stops and tells Rita she's messing it up, but Cookie says she's doing great and should keep trying.*

Bev and Rita sit on the front lawn. They call out to Sue as she jogs past, but Sue just flips them off and keeps going. Bev says Sue started walking and now she's full of herself. She started a walking group on Facebook and invited Bev, who turned it down. Bev would rather die than go walking with all the aunties. Bev asks if she's going to the conference and Rita says she feels like she should stick around for Bear. Bev says the kids are always going through something. They'll be fine. Bear's the same age now that she was when she had him. Bev says she was a good teen mom and thinks Bear would be a good teen dad. Rita doesn't want that for him. Bev says white people go to Cancun, they got to IHS conferences. It's their way.

Rita tells Bear to call Leon, not 911 if something happens. Bear knows this already. He tells her not to worry. He's just going to kick his feet up and rest. It'll be good not being on a roof all day. She deserves a weekend away, too, after working all the time. She says it's a conference. It's still work.

Rita enters her hotel room and enjoys the amenities.

Sam presents on the importance of sovereignty for Indian healthcare. Sustainable tribal health requires investment in themselves. Teenie comes in late and sits next to Rita, who is at a table with Bev, Natalie, and Dr. Kang. Sam calls them all to wield their power as Native people together. Bev mutters she she'll wield her power on Sam. Natalie sees that he has no rings and no hickeys. Rita calls shotgun. Teenie says he probably has a white wife. Bev says that doesn't count. Natalie asks Dr. Kang if he snags. When he asks what that is, Rita explains that it's noncommittal sex with someone you're definitely going to see again. Bev shows off the large amount of conference badges around her neck, saying those are her kills. You get one every time you snag someone from the host tribe. Dr. Kang is impressed. They think there's someone out there for him, but warn him to wear socks because mad medicine comes up through your feet.

Priscilla shows off a crystal dildo. It cleanses from within, she says. Teenie grabs it. Priscilla asks if they have kids. Rita says she has one. Natalie has three. Teenie says not yet. And Bev has a niece. Priscilla offers a stone to Rita and Natalie, saying it's a workout for their pelvic floor. It will tighten them up. For Natalie and Rita, she has something else. They walk away, saying how they love her. They start checking out the men as they walk around. As a Seminole man says hello to them, Teenie warns them to look down, saying Seminole men can impregnate you with a single gaze. They all cover their eyes and walk away.

Jumbo points to a man lifting a log and says that's what they used to look like back in the day. Rita sees the booth and tells Natalie her ex is there. Natalie looks at Ray Ray and says exes, because she snagged Jumbo, too. Jumbo calls out to her and Bev. He asks Bev if she has his lanyard in there. Teenie goes to the booth, saying she needs edibles. Dr. Kang plays with the dildos.

Teenie tells Rita to check out her snag as Sam enters the pool area. Teenie calls him over, saying there's a free seat by them. She wants to set Rita up for success. Sam takes the seat and starts reading a book. Rita asks him about his book. He's reading "Man Moon." He's from Chinle in Arizona, in the middle of the Navajo Nation. Bev says she worked there and asks his dad's name. He says it's Alfred and Bev says he was just a little guy when she saw his dad. Rita asks what it's like in Arizona. He says it's beautiful and she should visit sometime. She asks if he has kids and he says not that he knows of. Rita says she has a teenage son.

Sam says he always knew he wanted to help his people. He just didn't know how. So he went back to school to get his medical degree. It was hard to be away for so long, but it's nice to be back now, even if it's not his own community. Rita always wanted to go away to school. She used to tell people she was going to, but she didn't. Maybe when her son is grown up and out of the house. Sam offers to recommend a good pizza spot in the city to her. When they get to his floor, he says he'll see her at the bar later and she says yes.

The women prepare a vaginal steam and Rita steps over it. She asks why they've never done this before. Teenie tells Rita to ask for what she wants. They give suggestions for what she should ask for. Rita finally stands up. She feels powerful. She gets a notification on her phone and sees that Bear called. As she leaves to check it, Bev steps up to go next.

Bear says he's fine when she asks and he asks how the conference is going. Rita says it's good. Bear is standing in a room full of other teens. As soon as Rita hangs up, Bear tells them they're good and the party resumes. Cheese is nearby playing video games while the others dance.

Bev, Rita, Teenie, and Natalie are dressed to go out. In the elevator, they drink mini bottles of alcohol, but grimace at the flavor. At the bar, Bev tells them to cast a wide net so they can catch some fish.

Dr. Kang reminds Clinton that they closed it down last year.

*Dr. Kang and Clinton drunkenly sing.*

Teenie passes out edibles to Natalie, Bev, and Rita. Rita says it'll mess her up, but the others tell her to live a little. After she eats it, Bev realizes they're stronger than she thought.

The women all dance on the dance floor. Clinton tells Dr. Kang his Indian name is Cipo (Ass), claiming it means cousin. Dr. Kang likes the way it sounds. Adrienne comes to the table and offers to get them another round. Dr. Kang tells her his name is Cipo. She says she likes his braid. He awkwardly asks her what tribe she's from and learns she's Tonkawa. He says he's wearing socks.

The women laugh and sing together. Bev thinks the drugs are kicking in. Rita is overwhelmed. They hear their song and decide to go dance.

*The women perform an elaborate, choreographed dance while everyone else applauds.*

In reality, they're all dancing awkwardly.

The women sit around and share memories. Rita remembers them stealing Teenie's mom's car and crashing it into the creek. They were trying to go to a party. Bev says that was the first night she ever snagged, the beginning of her ho days. Rita misses those days. Natalie does, too. She doesn't want to do dishes anymore. They all feel like they went from being kids to being women overnight. And no one asked them. They just expected them to be traditional and sacred. It's a lot. Teenie says that's why they need nights like this. Natalie points out that Teenie doesn't have any kids. She says Bev doesn't either, but Bev has a niece. She has to be a mom to her. Rita says Teenie gets to pick and choose what to be part of, but the others don't get to. Teenie doesn't think it's easier. They don't know what she has to deal with. They say she left. But that's what she had to do. The others think she bailed after Cookie died. Teenie says she went to school. She worked. She joined the military. She gets up and leaves. Bev gets up to go snag. Natalie tries to get Rita to go dance.

Natalie and Rita are dancing. Natalie points out Sam sitting nearby. Rita hypes herself up then goes over to him, but stops when she sees him talking to another woman, so she doesn't see him turn the other woman down.

Rita uses the bathroom. When she goes to wipe, she realizes she's on her period and calls out in frustration. Teenie, who in the next stall, hears her and she asks if Teenie has a tampon. Teenie gives her one, saying it's good Indian men don't care. Rita says she thinks a niece swooped him. Teenie's used to that because men in the city won't even look at you if you're over 25. Everyone talks about honoring women, but they're not doing anything for women, not even giving them orgasms. Rita just wants to feel sexy again.

Jumbo and Ray Ray watch Natalie dance. She reluctantly lets them reel her in.

Rita says she doesn't know what Teenie goes through, but it looks good from her point of view. Teenie would love to have kids and work at IHS. It's lonely being so far away. Rita sometimes wishes she could get in a minor accident so she could get taken care of for a few days at the hospital. And be alone. Teenie asks if she means a vacation. That's what Rita would have to do to get one. Teenie misses when things were simpler.

Sam sits at the bar alone.

Natalie takes Ray Ray and Jumbo back to her room.

Clinton has a party in the parking lot.

Bev takes a man back to her room.

Teenie and Rita lie in bed and watch movies. Rita asks Teenie to hold her hair so she can vomit.

Dr. Kang runs from room to room in only his underwear and socks, trying to get in. He calls the elevator. When the doors open, Bev, Teenie, Rita, and Natalie are inside with the suitcases, hungover. Rita asks if he's okay. He shows them the badge he's wearing and says he finally snagged.

## Cast

### Starring

* Devery Jacobs as Elora Danan Postoak (credit only)
* D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai as Bear Smallhill
* Lane Factor as Cheese Williams
* Paulina Alexis as Willie Jack Sampson (credit only)

### Guest Starring

* Tamara Podemski as Teenie Postoak
* Bobby Lee as Dr. Kang
* Sarah Podemski as Rita Smallhill
* Jana Schmieding as Bev
* Nathalie Standingcloud as Natalie
* Tatanka Means as Sam

### Co-Starring

* Warren Queton as Clinton
* Migizi Pensoneau as Ray Ray
* Bobby Wilson as Jumbo
* Adrianne Chalepah as Adrienne
* Miles T. RedCorn as Mato Wayuhi
* Kari Quoetone as Cookie
* Theda New Breast as Priscilla
* Mekko Toretto as Seminole Man
* Brynlee Lynn Nowlin as Young Teenie
* Isabel Koye-Mahee Gomez as Young Bev
* J'leeanna Ramsey as Young Natalie
* Nora Yarholar as Young Rita