During Thanksgiving dinner at Elise’s house, Ryan shows up drunk. Once it is obvious, Elise tells Ryan to leave her table. Lillian and Elise ensure Ryan does not drive; Elise directs him to sleep in the extra bedroom, and Ryan goes down the hall without a fight. The scene leaves an empty place setting at the table and Jet watching with worried concern, which pains Lillian.

Lillian reflects that she wanted Jet and Ryan to have a relationship, remembering occasional good visits but acknowledging Ryan misses more than he makes and sometimes endangers others. She recalls a prior incident when he arrived intoxicated, her taking his keys, and his later DUI jail time and rehab that did not hold. The moment thrusts her back to the campus phone call about her father’s death in a collision caused by a drunk driver, and she recounts handling his cremation alone after already losing her mother.

Back home after Thanksgiving, Lillian is flooded by memories of Ryan “Of The Early Years,” when he was loving and playful, contrasted with Ryan “Of Today,” who fails to appear or arrives in a daze. Although Ryan has never filed for divorce and sends a monthly check for Jet (memo: Georgette) that Lillian saves for her, she admits no one else she has dated compares to the man Ryan once was.

The week after Thanksgiving, Ryan stands Jet up again. Hurt by Jet’s growing indifference, Lillian takes her to the animal shelter; Jet, in a Pink Ranger costume, chooses a border collie mix she names Stethoscope (Seth). At home, Jet makes labels, and Shauna and Kendi join for Seth’s first walk and Frisbee at the park.

On a park bench, Lillian and Shauna talk about world news and then about Shauna’s boyfriend, Michael, a pediatric oncologist. Lillian notes her lack of jealousy because she longs for her own lost past rather than something new. Shauna is falling in love with Michael, while Kendi, who only has stories of his late father Patrick, is slowly warming to Michael; Michael takes Kendi to the Aviation Museum monthly.

They all play together before heading home under a streaked evening sky. Later, Jet hosts her friend Valentina to meet Seth; after Valentina leaves, Jet says she prefers Kendi because Valentina only wanted dolls and hair clips. Lillian coaches Jet about taking turns and being a good friend, but Jet drifts off to play “doctor” with Seth.

That evening, mother and daughter share dinner stories and laughter. Lillian’s thoughts turn to the unknown life of her relinquished son and what Ryan is missing. Elise calls, and Jet chatters happily about her day to her sole grandparent. Lillian, petting Seth, murmurs that while there may be no good men, Seth is her good boy, underscoring her shift toward reliable sources of comfort.