Of course you know you're not really a Ranger
until a DPS chair makes it so.
You, got one more important decision to make.
You ready?
- Scotch or bourbon? - I'm good, thanks.
- You good? All right. - Yeah.
Don't mind if I do.
Sure.
To Walker... Texas Ranger.
Glad you took the time.
- For yourself and your family. - Yeah.
Yeah, it was, it was... It was good.
I needed that. Thank you.
Now, don't-don't get all sappy on me here.
Come on, I need my top Ranger out there,
not this-this new breed
all in touch with their feelings and that.
Yeah, well, you know, Stan, maybe it's time
we embrace some change.
Don't doubt yourself too much.
You were born to do this.
Just do me one thing, though:
color inside the lines.
You mean at least until you get elected D.A.?
See, that's a smart man right there.
That's right. What, one more day on the campaign trail?
Yeah. Just got this feeling
everything can change tomorrow, you know?
I mean, I'm still gonna have to eat your brother's lunch
at our alma mater later.
That's right, the debate at Sacred Heart High.
I'm not gonna be able to make it, Stan. You're going, right?
I mean, one of us is gonna have to see
who our new boss is gonna be.
- Yeah, I was gonna drive Liam over. - What? No.
No, no, we cannot have...
that-that would be favoritism.
We can't have favoritism in this department.
Am I right, Cap?
Walker will absolutely be driving you.
See? That just makes more sense.
Well, listen, I'm hoping, for both our sakes,
that, you won't have to take orders From your kid brother.
That looks nice.
Welcome back, Ranger.
Thank you, sir.
Now where's my damn tie?
They call yet?
No.
Hey, Google, remind me to call the doctor at noon.
Got it. I'll remind you at noon.
So I can give him the what for.
It's the last week of school.
Don't you think you need to tell Ruby
how you feel before summer?
Stella, it's not that easy to just...
Come on, Augie.
- Show some spirit. - Yeah.
'Cause it's, it's Spirit Week, yay.
Is it Spirit Week already?
All right, I got some work to do.
It's best not to keep things bottled up, trust me.
So, what's Spirit Week?
Liam's never told you about Spirit Week?
No, no, Bret is here to help with the campaign,
not to talk about Spirit Week.
Okay, seriously, can we stop saying "Spirit Week"?
- It's kind of getting annoying. - Spirit Week!
- Spirit Week!
I have not heard of the week whose name we shall not speak.
It's what we call the week before summer break,
when everyone's taking care of unfinished business
they put off all year, like, I don't know,
finally confessing their crushes.
Thank you. And, yeah, and making up for being
a terrible friend.
- Or in Uncle Liam's case, both. - Ooh...
Half the school apologized for how I was treated
when I came out, and the other half wanted
to hook up before going off to college.
Hey, no phones at breakfast time, love.
No, I got talking points and the debate... Okay.
Okay, so let me get this straight.
Everyone announces how they're gonna change,
but the question is,
is it all just talk, or do they actually act on it?
Are you talking about Spirit Week or the debates?
Are you making this all about you now?
What about you, Mawline?
You need some talking points for those vows?
Excuse me, I have done this before,
and things do get better with age.
Love you.
- Thank you, Mawline. - You're welcome.
Spirit Week!
- Are you serious? - Spirit Week!
There she is!
There's my baby!
Trey, look at you.
You gonna get some of this, too.
Come here. My gosh!
Trey, she is beautiful.
My goodness. I mean, I've seen pictures,
but you never know, with all the filters and whatever.
But gosh, would the two of you make
- some beautiful babies. - Ooh...
- Thank you. - Yeah.
- It's so nice to finally meet you. - Yeah.
And, um, you can stay...
Don't worry about that, I have a room down at the Driskill.
I just had to stop by and see my boy first.
My goodness, Trey... Wow.
You're an artist, too?
Okay, so have you guys worked out
who's gonna pay the mortgage, the utilities and all of that?
Listen, I know talking about money isn't *y,
but it is a part of any healthy relationship.
- Well, that and... - All right, Mama.
Why don't we get you something to eat
- and let Micki get ready for work? - Okay.
Well, I'm starving, because you know
- I didn't eat those pretzels on the plane, Trey. - I know.
Damn it.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, Ma, I got it. Okay?
She's a trip, isn't she?
- Yeah. - You all right?
Yeah, I just missed a couple days on these.
- How many days? - Probably not enough to be pregnant.
Even though we'd have beautiful babies.
Howdy, Counselor. You ready for this?
As ready as I'll ever be.
Bret, you remember Micki Ramirez, right?
Yeah, yeah, of course. She's the woman that
inspired you to run.
Here we go, here we go. Bill and Diane.
Here you go. Vote Stan. You guys know that, come on.
- Hey. - There he is.
I've got to beat that guy.
Don't worry, you have my vote.
You guys can vote, too.
Make sure it's legal.
We only count legal votes here in Texas.
Hey, hey, look at this.
Two high school debate champs
closing the campaign on their old stomping grounds.
Of course, Liam here
took off for New York the second he got that diploma.
Always the wayward son of Lonestar.
You know, maybe you should have stayed an outsider.
Well... I, I had to come back
after you made a mess of things.
You both were involved in the sentencing of Carlos Mendoza
for the murder of Emily Walker.
He won't talk to the press. Do either of you have
- anything to say about his exoneration? - I think we've covered that.
Mr. Mendoza didn't cooperate with our initial investigation,
but mistakes were made, yes.
Thankfully, justice prevailed.
Well, can you comment on the timing of the arrest
of Detective Campbell and the retirement of D.A. McLawson
- this past week? - Byron, Byron. Come on, man.
It's a photo op, not a press conference.
- Here. Get in here. Come on. - Come on, get some photos.
Principal Heaney. Is there a problem?
Someone just called in a bomb threat a few minutes ago.
Local PD is already en route. Hey...
- What's going on? - All right, everyone clear out.
Stay away from the building.
Follow me in an orderly manner, this way.
Dad, is everything okay?
We have a-a... a situation.
Why don't y'all just stay back until we figure this out. Go on.
Go on.
- Hey. - Hey.
Bomb squad's five minutes away.
- We gotta make sure the building's clear. - Yeah.
- Anyone in here? - Texas Rangers!
Texas Rangers.
Um, just...
Um, okay, well...
Yeah, keep me up to speed.
All right, witness who called it in wanted to remain anonymous,
but they said they overheard an explicit threat
- to both candidates. - What'd they say?
"They can run for office in hell after I blow 'em to pieces".
All right, well, we're sweeping the school,
the auditorium where the debate was gonna be,
and coordinating with local PD about questioning suspects.
Y'all have any idea who could have done this?
Past threats? Anything?
I think you should search the cow.
Well, DPS and the D.A.'s office are still dismantling
- North Side Nation. - Trials pending.
Open investigations.
That doesn't exactly narrow it down.
Well, hell, I don't know.
Well, good job.
May the best man win. I'll see you.
Hey, what are you doing for the rest of the day?
Why, what do you got in mind?
A beer, barbecue back at the ranch.
See, that's the first good idea you've had the entire campaign.
So yes. But I'm bringing the barbecue,
and that's not open for debate.
I guess he's buying.
Where do we start?
The kids.
It's been a rough year for all of them,
not just Stella and Augie. I mean, this age is brutal,
and this was something they were looking forward to.
If only someone co-owned a restaurant,
it could be a safe haven for them to unwind
And eat all the free hot wings they wanted.
I like how you're thinking.
I am the smart one.
All right, Sacred Heart,
food and drinks on the house, no booze.
No, no, no. Come on.
Hey there.
Hey.
Who's making Augie so nervous?
Ruby, the young lady he's talking to.
He's been hung up on her all year long.
Still can't tell what's going on there.
I guess everyone needs a Becca Ferguson
before they find the right one.
Becca Ferguson? Wow.
That's a deep cut.
Remember when she kissed you at the drive-in?
Do I remember?
The shark attack, you mean?
Yes, I remember. I still have scars in the back of my gums.
All of the teeth.
Hey, you mind if I leave 'em here with you?
I gotta head back.
- Go catch a bad guy. I got the kids. - Okay.
Thank you.
Hey, Cordi?
Yeah?
When I left before...
Geri. Geri...
I'm glad you're back.
We need to tell them it's cancer.
Liam already knows and it's not fair
to keep it from the rest of the family.
After everything that's happened,
you think they need more drama?
Let's just wait till after the election.
Hey.
I invited Stan.
- I see that. - Brought barbecue.
- And some beer. - Well, come on in. Just no politics.
- We'll try our best. - That's funny.
I hope they moo-ved that heifer to cow-nty lock-up.
All right, stop milking it.
Bomb squad's cleared the building.
Doing a sweep of the auditorium now.
Figured we'd just do a walk-through
and see if anything stands out, like...
My God, is that you?
You and Hoyt.
Yeah.
Yeah, we had a good run that year.
- Wow. - Hey, they trace that caller yet?
They're still working on it.
Trey's mom is in town. It took less than
five minutes for her to get in a question
about kids, and I...
I don't know why I'm telling you this,
but I realized I forgot to take my birth control
for the past few days.
Well, I don't know if that's a comedy or a tragedy.
Ooh, well played.
I mean it's not like we don't think about it,
it's just... I just became a Ranger.
You know, I'm still trying to figure out this whole
work-life balance, you know?
I do. You know, my two cents?
One, you're kicking * as a Ranger.
And two,
you're never gonna find that balance; no one does.
I thought you were trying to figure it out.
Yeah, I am trying, but...
_
Who's that?
Geri.
We should check out that auditorium.
- Yeah, we should. - Yeah.
All clear.
Wow.
Shame. Sure would have been nice
to see my kid brother putting on a show.
Yeah, Liam would have, wiped the floor
with our DPS overlord.
Yeah. Yes, he would.
Which reminds me.
I heard you never had your chance to talk to Stan,
or the DBS commission in general
about my, behavior.
Yeah.
Ranger Ramirez.
Would you care to comment on your partner's actions?
I think they were excessive.
Do you think he's fit to wear the badge?
I believe everyone should be held
accountable for their actions,
no matter what their reputation might be...
or what they've been through.
- You think I should have quit? - No.
Walker...
you are a good Ranger.
But I know you can do better.
And not just then.
Today. Tomorrow.
For as long as you wear that badge.
Yeah. You're right.
I had a lot of dark in me, and it just took hold.
And I don't want that to ever happen again.
It shouldn't be an excuse.
And it's not.
I know I need to do better, and I will do better.
I promise.
But I might need your help.
I'm not going anywhere.
Let's go finish up.
Geri?
Captain James. We have anything?
Got it. We're on the way.
So, they traced the caller.
Travis Pike, ex-con.
Served time for arson.
Travis Pike! Texas Rangers.
- You mind answering a few questions? - Gun!
Don't! Don't do it! Don't even think about it.
- Come on. - What are you gonna do?
How you gonna stop me?
You gonna use that gun there before I get to mine?
No, I'm not.
And neither are you, all right?
Look, this doesn't have to get out of control.
Let's just...
talk.
All right.
Let's talk.
What do you mean when you say you want them to listen?
D.A.'s office wouldn't return my calls.
DPS wasn't any better.
Neither of those slick politicians would listen to me.
They dropped my case.
What was your case, Travis?
The lithium clouds from the moon towers
are causing the bats under Congress Bridge
to attack people; open and shut!
Right. Of course.
Travis, that sounds more like a civil matter.
They deal more with the criminal side.
People think because I'm messed up,
I can be ignored.
I've made mistakes.
I've served my time.
Witnesses said
you were gonna do something
really bad at the debate.
Is that true?
I don't know.
I just wanted somebody to hear my side of things,
but no one would listen.
No one would hear.
Travis, this man is gonna take you somewhere safe, okay?
Give you some time to think.
But I promise you we will relay your message, okay?
Thank you.
That's all I wanted.
That's all I wanted. Howdy.
Sometimes the answer's right there in front of you,
you know, just staring back at you.
I bet.
Rangers! Perfect timing.
This young man here, he was,
- trying to... - Trying to...
trying to get himself in trouble?
Why don't you go sign some yearbooks.
Give me your digits.
- Can you just... - Come on, your digits!
- No-no digits today. - Move it along.
Digits? Is everyone this spirited right now?
They were all fine. It's actually kind of nice
seeing everybody act like it's the end of the world.
All the feels.
Well, we all need our Becca Ferguson.
Really? Both of you?
All right. Um, hey,
do you mind taking Augie and Stella home
to the ranch later?
- Sure. - Great.
And do you mind telling
our future bosses
that the security threat is...
- No longer a threat? Sure. - Yeah.
Everything okay?
Yeah, just...
You know, something the would-be security threat said about
serving his time, but never being heard
made me think about somebody else
who served his time and was never heard.
Um... Carlos Mendoza.
Mendoza?
Yeah.
Wow, you really are taking this reformed Ranger
to new lengths.
He made a false confession, yes, but the D.A.'s office,
the Rangers, me especially,
we should have done a better job.
And he's been living a lie for a long time, and I,
I just need to understand why.
- You know, I need to hear his side of things. - Yeah.
You want me to go with you?
No, I'm not going as a Ranger.
I'm just going as a, as a, as a widow.
All right, um,
- I'll check in with you later. - Yeah.
Okay, so this is your Aunt Karen's second grandchild.
That's her first one.
- Look at her. - Wow.
I'm serious.
Once you have one grandkid,
you want a dozen, Trey.
I think you're laying it on
kind of thick, aren't you, Ma?
What?
I know you do, son. I can tell.
And I like her, Trey. I really like her.
I just want to be sure that you both want the same thing.
That's all.
Okay?
- Yeah. - Okay.
You're not gonna believe this one. Look.
My neighbor, Miss Adeline, this is her grandbaby.
Look. Look at that face.
No one is saying that the system is broken
beyond repair, I'm just saying that
it needs to be fixed.
Well, hang on.
Let me guess, let me guess.
Compassionate release initiatives.
- Yes, yes. - Prison reform. A sentencing commission.
- Yes. - And,
how, exactly, is the county
gonna pay for all this, Counselor?
Budget reforms.
You could raise taxes.
- There it is. There it is. - If necessary.
You hear that, Bonham?
Your boy's gonna raise your taxes.
It's not like you've shown me anything better.
Bonham Walker, you can't start with me with that.
- Hey, Stella. - Hey.
Where's your brother?
He's still at the Side Step filming some
end-of-the-year thing.
I thought the debate was cancelled.
It is, don't worry.
Liam here was just reading from the typical liberal manifesto.
Hey, Stella, before you go,
any questions for our two lovely candidates
on the final night of the election?
Yeah...
Uncle Liam, would you have let my dad
be a Ranger again, after everything that happened?
I...
I didn't think that he was ready.
But I know that he wants to change.
And I know that he's trying to be at peace.
Cool. Thanks.
Mr. Mendoza?
I'm sure you remember me.
I know who you are.
Good news. The security threat has been lifted.
- Yeah! That's good. - That's great. Thank you.
What'd you find out about the suspect?
He was troubled.
Likely harmless in the long run,
but he was taken in.
Just wanted to be heard.
You should have brought him out here, Ranger.
Liam could have set up a plan for the man's rehabilitation and reform.
They're still in debate mode. It's been, spirited.
It's Spirit Week.
Damn it. Why did I grant one last interview
to Byron Santos?
Maybe because after he trashed me,
you figured he'd be in your corner.
You know your opponent.
All right, I think he's pulling up.
I better get out there.
You know, come to think of it, he's,
probably gonna want a hero shot of you out front.
You know, where the man became the legend.
It's been all day.
You know it's a cicada year? First one in our lifetime.
Yeah. Yeah, that's super cool.
What's happening?
What do you mean?
Y-You know, like, what's up with you and Todd?
We were together, and now we're not.
Right.
But all year, you never really gave me any clue that
this would be a situation we'd ever be in, you know?
So analytical.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, so... analytical.
Okay, you know, I really wanted to say
this perfect thing to you, but I just...
I feel like this whole time it's been really one-sided.
And, like, you're leaving.
And if we do something, you're still leaving,
and I-I just will think about what else
could have happened with us, so...
Yeah, I just, I-I don't want this to be the version of us.
August, you think too much.
Yeah, yeah, I know.
I...
Look, I really wish we tried,
but... I feel like it's too late.
So...
Have a great summer, Ruby.
My, my, how far this city has come.
From hitchhikers to phone apps.
All in the name of progress, I guess.
So, what? Polls really that tight,
you had to get one more scoop?
I gotta be honest, I started out doing a follow-up piece on the Walkers;
- Liam and Cordell. - Here we go.
Trash talking one of our best Rangers.
No. As far as I can tell he's turned it around.
Including the arrests of multiple North Side Nation members,
and helping in the Detective Campbell case.
But, of course, you know about that.
Yeah, Byron, I'm on the DPS.
What-what are you getting at?
You were a little evasive about the connection between D.A. McLawson's retirement
and Detective Campbell's arrest earlier.
- Come on, don't start. - I just wanted to close the circle.
I think that's been pretty well gone over.
A man of a certain age wants to spend
- more time fishing, more time with his family. - With his family, yes.
That is a popular phrase among politicians
with something to hide.
Do you have something to hide?
I wanted to be able to
look you in the eye again without hate,
knowing the truth.
I want to be able to tell you I'm sorry.
It was my decision.
Why?
For my family.
We needed the money,
and I'm a dying man, so what do I matter?
I know you're a father.
Can't you understand that?
Why are you asking me all this?
Why don't you go bug McLawson or Campbell?
I was at the county clerk's office this morning.
Found out there are a number of other cases
McLawson dismissed that also had ties
to North Side Nation.
Well, what's that got to do with me?
Like you said, you're the DPS chair.
You signed off on all the cases
that were dismissed.
This is...
This is cold comfort.
I know that.
But when you confessed,
there was something in your eyes.
Something that was behind 'em.
I remember feeling like
there was something you weren't saying.
I'm in a place now
where I can admit to you
that we should have asked more questions.
You're just a man who lost his wife.
The people who did that to you,
who did this to me,
they are the ones that should pay.
- She's dead. - Who?
Cali. The woman who put you up to this.
The woman who... killed my wife.
She's dead now.
You said "they".
Look, hey, Santos, come on.
Hey, hold on, hold on. Take it easy.
Look, what you got here, this is...
This is more cobbled together
than my Aunt Linda's berry slump.
Tell me, wh-what's really going on?
You know, I'm just trying to understand why
you dismissed all those cases.
If there's something you're not telling me...
No, no! You're not hearing me!
All right? There's... There's answers to all this.
Look, my truck is here. Let's both of us,
we'll go down to my office... Will you stop that?
We'll go down to my office right now.
We'll go over all the cases.
You'll see everything's on the up-and-up. Come on.
- All right? What is wrong with you? - You're hiding something, Stan.
- No, I'm not hiding something. - It's gonna come out.
If you're gonna make accusations like that,
you've got to let me say my piece.
Hey.
Byron?
Hey. Hey.
Cali came to see me the last time I was in the hospital.
There was a man there with her.
Seemed like he was in charge.
- He put up the money. - What'd he look like?
His face... His face is everywhere.
He's running for district attorney.
Stan Morrison.
Are you on dish duty?
Anything to win your vote, ma'am.
- Ha! - Who's it gonna be, Abs?
Come on, I promise I won't tell Liam.
I don't love you that much, Stan.
I...
saw him take a pill earlier.
He's sick, isn't he?
I won't say anything.
But you're gonna get through this.
You Walkers, you have this natural-born survival instinct.
I swear, from the prairie to the courtroom,
y'all always find a way.
You know, whatever happens with this election,
I want you to know you still have a place here.
I'm gonna insist on that.
Is there, anything else on your mind?
Nope.
Just trying to get this mess cleaned up.
Actually, Liam was telling me that you and Bonham were
talking about renewing vows; you got a venue?
We don't need that.
No, listen. Hey, hey, hey.
Go all out on this.
Use my place.
Throw a party that you don't have to clean up after.
You would do that?
Well... it might be fun.
Well, then, let's have some fun. All right?
So, Cordi took you on a trip down memory lane at Sacred Heart.
- Becca Ferguson? - Becca Ferguson!
- I have a photo that's gonna blow your mind. - Well, well!
I can see where your vote's gonna be cast.
Where's that partner of yours?
Yeah, where is Cordi?
He went to visit Carlos Mendoza at the hospital.
What did he go see Mendoza for?
Maybe something you said stuck with him
when you made his reinstatement official.
Well, that's...
He's a hell of a guy, your brother?
Yeah, he is.
Listen...
whatever happens...
you ran a great campaign.
We got problems.
You know, quiet's nice after the storm
that Stan and Liam kicked up.
That was some real truth telling.
Well, you certainly haven't gotten any more subtle
over the years, that's for sure.
But you're right.
There have been enough... secrets around here.
What's going on with my health
should be talked about with the family.
Mind you, my dad didn't tell us until
- he was being wheeled in to surgery. - Okay, that is not
the legacy we're looking for, love.
Okay.
Hey, how'd it go with Ruby?
I bailed.
Yeah. And in an unforeseen turn of events,
she didn't even want me to.
You know, all year I've been trying to find
the right thing to say to her at the right time.
Gotta say this tracks for the guy who
literally narrates his life.
I don't know, I-I think I had the right thing to say to her.
I just...
I just let the right moment slip by.
And maybe the right person left.
Bel's aunt is taking her to Mexico this summer
to be with her parents.
I'm sorry.
August the Noble.
- Come on, dude. - No!
For real. You see more than what's in front of you.
The way you started taking pictures, like Mom.
I love that you do that.
It makes you see things that other people don't.
Well, I think we've both seen a lot of stuff
other people don't.
Have you heard from Trevor again?
I thought about writing,
but some moments are hard to separate
from others with him.
They were all real.
Yeah, this morning I...
I thought I could capture it all in a yearbook message.
Seems so stupid now.
- God... - Not really.
Hey, I believe in the power of a yearbook message.
Really?
Hey, you want to sign mine?
only if you sign mine.
- Deal. - Okay.
"Stella, your dad is hot".
- Are you serious? - I know, it's gross.
Hey, you shouldn't read somebody else's yearbook.
All right.
Where is Dad, by the way?
I should have known you couldn't handle this.
I paid you to deal with this,
not to watch me take care of it myself.
Hey, you're involved in this whether you like it or not.
And I think we should be on the same page so the cover story sticks.
You paid to think?
- What do you want to do with this guy? - I don't know.
I just cannot deal with another mess right now.
Hey, you know what?
Why don't you handle this yourself? Go ahead.
Don't move!
- Okay. - Don't move.
You move... I shoot.
Won't this be...
Won't this be an interesting headline?
DPS chair arrested on eve of election.
I'm not arresting you.
Come on, you worked really hard this past year
to reform yourself.
With your encouragement. After you ruined my family!
- Cordell, this isn't you. - Don't be too sure.
This isn't you. You're not this guy anymore.
Shut up!
Get in the truck.