Aunt Sue

**Aunt Sue** is the third episode of the second season and the 13th overall episode of **Rutherford Falls**.

## Short Summary

Reagan honors her aunt's memory with help from Nathan, but she must overcome some familial tensions.

## Full Summary

**1996**

Sue mixes dough, lets it rest, then forms it and fries it. Reagan asks if they're done making fry bread. Sue says they're almost out of dough and her brother Curtis graduating high school is a big deal. Reagan doesn't understand why this part is such a big deal when they barely did anything for Aunt Sue's 40th birthday. Sue says she doesn't need a lot of attention and they can make a big deal of her at her funeral.

Reagan and Nathan wait at the hospital. Reagan's mom Louise comes to Reagan. Reagan asks if she should take the next shift and Louise she's gone. Nathan hugs Reagan.

Reagan says that Sue wanted to be buried in the family plot, followed by a celebration of life at the casino, which Terry has agreed to close for the day. Wayne is shocked, because they didn't even shut down for the blackout in '03. Sally adds that they burned bingo cards to keep warm, but they kept going. Shannon says if they're going to honor Sue in a den of sin, she needs to do a reading from the Good Book. Everyone groans and Reagan reminds her that Sue wasn't religious and they need to honor that. Tommy shows off the portrait of Aunt Sue he painted. He wants to show it off at the party. The poorly-done portrait is of Sue on a motorcycle. Louise takes the painting and says they'll find a place for it. Wayne and Sally also want to help because Sue loved the casino. She once even dealt blackjack when Sheila's water broke. Reagan wants it to be a celebration of everything Sue loved, so they're going to need a lot of Buffalo Wild Wings and to blast Bonnie Raitt at full volume.

Bobbie finishes a cat-eye makeup tutorial. They remind their follows to remember their mom/best friend's motto. Jamie Yang joins them to say that brows make or break a face.

Nathan is amazed at how professional Bobbie's video looks. He asks if they're using a ring light or an actual halo. Terry is less pleased with their discourse and says they need to get back to work on the campaign. The debate is in two months and people need to be excited about Bobbie. Bobbie says the video links to their campaign site and they tagged AOC and Meghan McCain, the chaotic queens on both sides. Terry says they need to get out on the streets to convince people that they should be mayor, grassroots stuff like shaking hands and kissing babies. Bobbie claims they're allergic to babies and asks to do their own thing instead. Terry says they get votes be convincing people they care about the same things as the voters. Terry gives an example, stating an album he really likes is relevant. Nathan says they're on the exact same page. Terry reveals that he actually hates them, but he used that to get Nathan on his side. That's the key to building a constituency.

When Reagan walks in, Louise hands her a plant from Josh. Reagan was putting Tommy's painting in the garage because it was creeping her out. Reagan saw Louise talking to Mavis and wonders how many people have been bugging her about getting Sue's land. Louise can't even count how many. Reagan says it's hard to get land there. It's Louise's land now and Reagan promises to help her take care of it. She's the only one who knows where Sue buried all her guns. Louise laughs, but Reagan is serious.

Reagan is shucking corn on the porch when Nathan arrives with flowers for Louise and an edible arrangement for Reagan. He tells her to put him to work because he wants to help. She tells him to pick up the tablecloths. She wants to make it special because Aunt Sue did so much for them. Nathan also enjoyed her fry bread. He'd always take him an extra piece and sell it to Duz for $10. Reagan tells Reagan to text Duz back or at least get an Instagram because Duz just wants to know how he's doing. Nathan says his family is just a lot to unpack, but he'll deal with that. However, Reagan is his focus today. They're distracted by a loud sound and someone announcing that Curtis has arrived. Everyone's excited to see him, except Reagan, who warns Nathan not to let Curtis take advantage and not to bail Curtis out. Nathan denies having done that in the past, but takes the edible arrangement from Reagan and gives it to Curtis. He says they drove straight there, which means his daughter needs to eat. He asks Reagan to take care of that for him. Nathan offers to get some pizzas. Curtis says he can't put Nathan out like that, after everything Nathan's done for Reagan, like giving her his museum. Reagan says that's not what happened. Curtis does want the $20 Nathan owes him, which Nathan immediately gives him. Nathan tries to explain it to Reagan, saying it's an inside joke.

Terry and Bobbie prepare for Bobbie to meet people. Terry has Bobbie profile a nearby man, Stuart. Bobbie creates an elaborate backstory for Stuart, but then Terry points out that he's wearing an I ♥️ Fishing shirt, so maybe they should start there. Bobbie runs up to Stuart and asks if he likes fly fishing or regular.

Curtis says he hated leaving the powwow trail, but he was getting too old to dance and he loves what he's doing now. He's not just selling hot tubs. He's selling a dream. Reagan gets up suddenly, saying she has to go because there's a lot to do. Curtis asks what he can do, but Reagan tells him not to worry about it. He has a history of not completing tasks he's been asked to do. Louise says they can find something Curtis can do. Reagan says that the flowers are all that's left. Curtis says he can do it. Louise says he has a knack for flowers. Reagan asks him to name one flower and he fails before coming up with roses. Reagan relents, but tells him not to get carnations, because Sue considered them filler flowers. Curtis says he can do it and he really needs to honor Aunt Sue especially because he's getting her land. Reagan is shocked.

Reagan wonders why Louise didn't tell her she was giving the land to Curtis. Louise says she didn't want to stress Reagan out, but if she had kids, she'd understand. Reagan says Louise can't keep using that excuse because she uses it for everything. Curtis hasn't been home in years. Louise says Reagan left, too, but Reagan left to go to college while Curtis is selling hot tubs at county fairs. Reagan tries to get her dad, Bill, on her side, but he says he doesn't like drama except for season three of Adirondack, which he's watching on his phone. Nathan brings in the tablecloths and senses the tension in the room. Reagan explains that Louise is giving the land to Curtis because he has a kid even though Aunt Sue didn't have any kids. Nathan says that's messed up, but Louise says that's not the only reason. Curtis is also the oldest. Nathan says it would also be nice to have Curtis back, which prompts Reagan to tell him to pick a side. Nathan says he's not the one to help them find a right answer because he's white. He's going to wait outside for things to calm down. Louise says it's nearly impossible to get land out there. It takes a lot of paperwork and phone calls. Curtis can't handle that. He's the one she has to worry about it. Reagan's never needed help the way he does.

Bobbie is still talking to Stuart, who is telling them a story about a wedding. Bobbie's intrigued, but Terry says they should probably move on. Bobbie says they just need one more minute with Stuart, so Stuart can finish the story. There weren't enough people to flip the limo back over, but Stuart's wife got collision insurance. She's a lawyer, so she knows about that stuff. Bobbie says it's been great talking to him and they hope they have his vote. He says he can't vote for them because he lives at the lake. Terry is shocked, but Bobbie is happy for him.

Curtis goes to Nathan and asks him to come along to get flowers. Nathan would love to, but Reagan is really stressed, so he should stay and help. Curtis talks Nathan into coming anyway.

Terry tells Bobbie that after six hours, they've made three lifelong friends, only one of whom is eligible for vote for them. If it were up to Bobbie, she'd be backpacking through Luxembourg on election day anyway. Terry thinks he's made a mistake, something he's never said before. At this rate, they'll only have 30 voters by election day. Bobbie says this is why the videos work for them. They're a strong cup of coffee and it's a healthy boundary for them and their constituents. Terry says constituents are people who actually vote, not kids wasting their time on the internet. Bobbie asks what about people who do both.

Delia is surprised that BobbieSlay came to her crochet group. She tells Bobbie that her husband learned to do her eyeliner like theirs. Bobbie didn't realize they were in a retirement home for supermodels. Terry is surprised that Bobbie knows them, but Bobbie says one of the biggest users of their makeup tutorials is seniors. Maureen says it keeps them fresh. Bobbie asks if they heard that they're running for mayor. Delia already told all her grandkids to vote for them. She'd tell her son, too, if he ever visited. Terry surprised that all the residents know Bobbie. Bobbie says old people love the internet. Terry says they can work with that.

Curtis can't believe Reagan doesn't trust him to do the flowers or anything else. He's not a kid. Curtis can't remember if Reagan said no carnations or a lot of carnations. Nathan says it's no carnations, no filler flowers. Curtis says only the best for Aunt Sue. Curtis asks if Nathan has $200. Nathan laughs, but Curtis is serious. He promises to pay Nathan back. Nathan steps away when his phone rings. It's Reagan, complaining that Curtis won't answer his phone, so she has to go check on the flowers herself. Nathan says she doesn't need to do that. He's sure Curtis has things under control. Curtis gives him a thumbs up. Reagan says she's already there. Nathan hangs up the phone and tells Curtis that the one he's looking at is almost all carnations and Reagan is there and about to walk in. Curtis says Nathan has to hide or Reagan will hold this over him. There's nowhere to hide except a casket. Nathan reluctantly climbs inside. Curtis closes the lid, then asks for Nathan's credit card. As he closes Nathan in, Reagan comes in. She's angry to see Curtis looking at carnations. Curtis says she's micromanaging just like when they were kids. Like when she wouldn't let him pick out their mom's birthday present. Reagan reminds him he got her a leather jacket in his size. Reagan says he doesn't deserve Aunt Sue's land. She's the one who stayed and takes care of people. While they are arguing, Sean and Michael come in and wonder which casket they're supposed to take. Michael says it doesn't matter because the wake has already started and the casket is empty anyway. They grab the one with Nathan inside and carry it out. When Curtis sees this, he starts laughing.

A woman eulogizes her husband to a tearful audience. She and the audience are shocked when Nathan pushes out of the casket and gasps for breath. He apologizes, but says he could have died. He tries to explain why he was in the casket, but when the deceased's sons stand up and start walking toward him, he darts out the side door.

Bobbie makes a campaign video/makeup tutorial. As they work, they talk about their mother, who is a home healthcare worker and raised them to love Rutherford Falls.

Wayne says Sue would have loved the party. Reagan agrees and says whatever she didn't love, she would have talked shit about. Sally sees Nathan's black eye and wonders about it.

Reagan delivers a eulogy about Sue. When she starts to tear up and struggles to speak, Curtis takes the microphone and tells a story about Aunt Sue sending him to the store in her Crown Vic to get her cigarettes when he was ten. Sue was old school like that and she loved them. She pushed them, which they needed. He's glad they got to love her back in their own ways. He hands the microphone back to Reagan, who says that Sue taught her how to count and to curse in Minishonka. She touched the lives of everyone in the room, so Reagan invites anyone who wants to to come up and say something about her.

Terry tells a story about Sue being Rage Fuel's band manager and her fighting to get them paid by hitting the promoter with a frying pan she pulled out of her purse. They didn't get paid, but it was awesome.

Wayne says when Sue won the jackpot on The Unicorn's Challenge, she bought everyone Yard Margaritas. It's the drunkest Sally's ever been at work.

Nathan says Sue looked out for him like he was her own nephew and if she had never hired that private detective, he might be married to Loretta right now.

Louise says it was Black Friday and she was screaming on the floor of Sears in labor with Curtis. Sue brought in a doctor on her bike and said, "Let's do this."

Shannon gives a very religiously-laced speech about Sue entering heaven, which bores everyone else. Reagan gets on the stage, takes the microphone, and asks if anyone else has something to say.

Louise gives Reagan the key to Sue's motorcycle, saying Sue would have wanted her to have it. She encourages Reagan to take it out.

Reagan revs the engine and Nathan tells her the motorcycle is awesome. Reagan says it'll be cooler when she learns how to drive it. She lets Nathan have a turn sitting on it. He turns it off and tells her she put together a beautiful service. Herbert's service was also lovely and his sons said some lovely things about him before they punched Nathan. Families are messy. Reagan knows that, but says Curtis did show up for her. Nathan says Duz always shows up for him, too. He loves him and needs to call him. Love them or hate them, you need your family. Nathan encourages Reagan to get back on the motorcycle. Reagan forgot how badass her aunt was. She never married and never took anyone's crap. Reagan says she'll get her own land somehow. She revs the engine again. Nathan feels so alive right now. Reagan does, too, feeling the power of Sue's motorcycle.

Deirdre tells Charlie that she's pregnant. He asks about the father and she confirms that she's having Nathan's baby.

## Cast

### 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 (credit only)

### Guest Stars

* Dana L. Wilson as Deirdre Chisenhall
* Julia Jones as Sally
* Bobby Wilson as Wayne
* Georgina Lightning as Louise
* Eddie Spears as Curtis
* Lorne Cardinal as Bill
* Adam Farabee as Charlie

### Co-Starring

* Lulu Goodfox as Young Reagan
* Charlotte Flyte as Aunt Sue
* Adrianne Chalepah as Cousin Shannon
* Tommy Pico as Cousin Tommy
* Joy Bisco as Jamie Yang
* Darin Toonder as Stuart
* Annie Korzen as Delia
* Reatha Grey as Maureen
* Joey Chan as Sean
* Ryan de Quintal as Michael
* Mary-Margaret Lewis as Old White Woman

## See Also

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