Land Back

**Land Back** is the fourth episode of the second season and the 14th overall episode of **Rutherford Falls**.

## Short Summary

Nathan tries to secure a mayoral endorsement. Reagan tries to apply for land on her reservation.

## Full Summary

Reagan tells someone on the phone that she hopes they can count on her vote for Bobbie. They're not related to Andrew Yang. As Reagan continues her pitch on the phone, Nathan looks at himself in the mirror. When she hangs up, Reagan reminds him he's supposed to be helping make calls. Nathan says he's about to drive to Albany to get Deirdre's endorsement and he needs Reagan's help. He wonders if his sweater is too sexy. Reagan says no. Nathan says that's good because he doesn't want to lead with romantic energy. Maybe he should wear a vest. He realizes he's overthinking it. As Reagan goes back to making calls, Nathan catches a view of himself in the mirror and says it's too sexy. She begs him not to put on a vest.

Nelson admires the new additions to their collection as he unpacks them. Reagan is shocked that he's handling the items with bare hands. Nelson says they've been packed away for too long and each item has an energy. They want to breathe and be held. She hands him a pair of gloves, saying the more they're handled, the faster they degrade. He asks if she'd wanted to be touched with gloved hands, but she tells him to wear them anyway. Nelson says most of the items are supposed to disintegrate back into Mother Earth anyway. Reagan would love to continue that conversation, but she has to go apply for a land assignment. Nelson says she doesn't have kids, which she knows will work against her. Nelson says tribal bureaucracy isn't for the weak. Reagan insists that she'll be fine.

Charlie tells Deirdre that Nathan is there and asks if she's planning to tell him she's pregnant. Deirdre says she is. Charlie lets Nathan in and Nathan compliments her office. Deirdre says they have a lot to talk about. Nathan starts by telling her about Bobbie's campaign. Nathan considered running, but decided to support others more and focus on himself less. Deirdre is happy to hear that he's selfless and employed now. Nathan says he's seeking her endorsement for the campaign, so it's not entirely selfless. Her word carries a lot of weight. Deirdre asks for time to think about it, because her new job means she has a lot of eyes on her. Nathan asks her about her new job and how she is. Deirdre says she has a lot of balls in the air. Nathan knows a lot about the place she's currently auditing, the Albany Train Museum, after having three birthday parties there. She asks for his expertise and he asks what he can do to help.

Reagan waits at the Minishonka Nation Community Services building in the Land Assignment Office. Trish comes in and compliments Reagan's earrings. Her mom made them and she offers to ask her mom to make Trish a pair. As Trish gets back to the desk, she suddenly turns cold toward Reagan, asking what she wants. Reagan explains that she's there to apply for land assignment. Trish tells her good luck after learning she's unmarried and has no children. She asks for Reagan's tribal ID, but when Reagan gives it to her, she says she can't accept it because it won't copy due to wear. Reagan says she didn't try, but Trish just knows. Reagan says Trish knows her. They went to Head Start together. She reminds Trish of when she spilled a lemonade Slurpee on her pants in third grade. Trish remembers, but she's never seen Reagan's papers.

Nathan shows Deirdre what he has put together for her to make her work easier. She thanks him, saying it's really helpful. Deirdre has something to tell Nathan, but Nathan interrupts before she can say anything and says funds are being redirected into an account called "Installation Upgrades." He suggests just going to the museum to check it out because he has the exhibits practically memorized from having visited so many times. He'll be able to tell if anything is different. She agrees to that. Nathan wonders if he should wear a disguise so they don't recognize him, but then realizes he wouldn't be able to use his yearly pass. He decides just to pay full price. But he won't get the discount in the gift shop. But he doesn't need anything there, except the water tower. Nathan remembers that Deirdre had something to tell him. She says she'll tell him later because he's distracted.

Deirdre asks if he bought the conductor hat he's wearing at the gift shop. He says he actually packed it. He doesn't notice anything out of the ordinary, but Deirdre knows something is up. Nathan approaches Merle, who is working on a train set and asks how long it'll be before it starts running. Merle says it doesn't run anymore because the museum director won't replace the broken motor. Deirdre quietly asks if replacing the motor wouldn't be an installation upgrade. Nathan and Merle talk about the place going downhill. The director refused to look into purchasing a rare train for the collection, but bought himself a new car the very next day. Nathan and Deirdre walk away and Nathan says the person running the museum is a monster. He's definitely corrupt. Nathan's thinking prison. He asks Deirdre what they do now. Deirdre says they'll probably prosecute him for misappropriation of funds. Nathan likens him to a terrorist.

Reagan gets her picture taken for her new tribal ID.

She takes it back to Trish, who says she not registered with the land and water department. She directs Reagan there to do that.

Reagan jumps through hoops to get everything done. Katrina says Reagan's not in her system. Reagan goes to Tony, who says she's not in his system either. He tells her to come back after she gets her land assignment. He directs her to the land management office. She says she was just there. She jumps through more hoops, including Joseph just shaking his head as he hands her application back to her, and gets sent all over the building. Kevin needs to know what land she's applying for. Reagan thought they'd just give her whatever's left. Kevin gives her a map and asks her to mark which plot she's applying for, assuming she's established residency with the Land Retention Department. She asks what that is. Reagan wanders the building more, looking for everything she needs. She goes through the door that's supposed to be the Land Retention Office, but finds herself outside, where the door shuts and locks behind her. Trish pulls up and suggests they get lunch sometime.

Deirdre thanks Nathan for dinner. He had a fun day as well. He felt like Encyclopedia Brown, but the adult version. She asks if he means Sherlock Holmes. He agrees that's a better reference. Deirdre says since he helped her, she'll help him. She asks him for his best pitch on Bobbie. Nathan tells her all the best things about Bobbie. And it's thanks her to her that Bobbie can even run, because she opened the door for other firsts. Nathan leans in and kisses her.

Reagan complains to Nelson as they hang paintings about having to choose the land to apply for. Nelson suggests she just go look at the land, but she doesn't have the time or experience required. Nelson offers to go with her, right then and there.

Nathan wakes up and finds the other side of the bed empty.

Nelson and Reagan find the plot. Nelson says the soil is bad, but the energy is good. She needs good soil for her ancestral food garden. Reagan was thinking more of an astroturf backyard with an above-ground pool. Nelson pulls out his measuring tape and starts taking measurements. He talks to Reagan as he investigates the land. He says she could fit a two to three bedroom trailer there and the pool for the ducks.

Nathan brings Deirdre breakfast at her office. He's there to say goodbye before he goes back home. Next visit, he promises to take her on a proper brunch. He realizes she's being quiet and asks if he did something. Deirdre says last night was great, then tells him she's pregnant and he's the father. Nathan doesn't think it works that fast, then he realizes it happened before.

Deirdre wanted to tell him sooner, but he didn't return her calls and she's still trying to wrap her head around it. Her job is a lot, but at this point in her life, she wants to keep the baby and thought he should know. Nathan says he's excited. It's a lot, but it's good. He's in. He could move to Albany. Deirdre slows him down and tells him that he'll be a great father, but she doesn't want them to be together. She likes him, but he's the kind of guy who disappears for months to find himself. He says it was a few weeks finding himself and then a few weeks in the attic. When he says it, he gets it. Deirdre's not at the point in her life where she can have uncertainty and neither can the baby.

Reagan brings Trish her application and tribal ID. Trish says if she's approved, she'll receive her application in the mail in eight to twenty-six weeks. Families are the priority, so she's at the end of the line. Nelson comes up beside Reagan and says he's her husband, in the tradition Indian way. Trish congratulates them. Reagan adds that they're going to have a baby, too. Trish gives Reagan the application, which is very long. Reagan takes it happily.

Outside, Reagan thanks Nelson for his help. She asks why he isn't married because guys like him usually get snatched up in high school. He says in high school, he had a weird tooth and cystic acne. He looked like Pizza the Hutt. Then people at home were weird to him after grad school, especially after he left his fiancée at the alter and she ended up marrying a white guy. Reagan gasps at the similarities between their two stories. Nelson says he was just kidding, except for the first part. People in town told him about her. Reagan asks if she can take him somewhere.

Reagan introduces Nelson to her baby, the building site for the new cultural center. He's impressed. It's way bigger than the one back home. Theirs is in the basement of the high school. His grandpa made it work. That's where he learned to make his first hand drum. Reagan wants a room in the back for language classes. The kids will be able to come listen to the elders tell stories about the seasons changing, plus a huge storage area, so Nelson can visit with every item in the collection. Nelson's always wanted to categorize items by their region instead of type. It tells a more complete story about the relationship between the people and the land. Reagan loves that and says Nelson was a good hire. A lot of the things she's wanted finally feel possible, getting land and the cultural center. Nelson says he's there for whatever she needs. She appreciates his help. Nelson thinks Reagan wants to kiss him right now. They lean closer and he kisses her.

Reagan is shocked that Nathan's going to be a dad while Nathan is shocked that Reagan kissed Nelson. Reagan says he always had cool dad vibes and now he'll have a child to justify it. Nathan says it's the sweaters. Nathan says they're leveling up, both of them. She's getting land and he's going to have a baby. Reagan makes him promise not to dump her when he and Deirdre get together. She's down to be a third wheel. Nathan says they're a package deal, but she doesn't have to worry because Deirdre doesn't want to be with him, which surprises Reagan. She thinks he's unreliable and he understands why. Reagan says he's a really great guy who just had a rough patch, which will make him stronger. He helped her when she struggled and he'll do the same for Deidre. Nathan really cares about her and thinks he can prove himself over time. Reagan announces the baby to the whole bar and offers to pay for people's drinks. On the other side of the room, Ms. Fish hears the news and says she's going to be a step-mom.

## Cast

### Main Cast

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

### Guest Stars

* Dana L. Wilson as Deirdre Chisenhall
* Beth Stelling as Ms. Fish
* Dallas Goldtooth as Nelson
* Adam Farabee as Charlie
* Shauna Baker as Trish

### Co-Starring

* Warren Sweeney as Merle
* Dash Turner as Tony
* Stephen Qacung Blanchett as Kevin
* Tai Joseph Taylor as Joseph
* Kaitlyn Jeffers as Katrina

## Music

* Reagan and Nathan share their news with each other.
* Reagan announces Deirdre's pregnancy to the whole bar, which Ms. Fish hears.

## See Also

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