Dead and Buried

S05E12

Brenda starts to head out, when she's waylaid by Ruth, coming down the stairs. Ruth asks about the baby, and Brenda cheerfully digs in her purse for new pictures. She hands them over, and Ruth sits at the bottom of the stairs to shuffle through them. But Ruth actually gets stuck on the first one. "Look at those eyes," she says wonderingly. Brenda, suddenly worried, asks if Ruth sees something wrong, and sits down to her. "It just seems like she sees more than we do," Ruth clarifies. "Like she's a very old soul." Wow, even people in Ruth's demographic talk like that in California sometimes. Brenda takes the photo and examines it, like she's wondering why that never showed up on an ultrasound. Ruth realizes that Brenda's still worried about Willa. Brenda admits that every doctor visit goes fine, "but I can't shake the feeling that something's going to go wrong." What you need to shake, Brenda, is that hairy ghost that keeps showing up. Ruth says, "If my experience is anything to go by, motherhood is the loneliest thing in the world." As Brenda looks at Ruth wonderingly, she explains that Late Nate, Sr. was still in Vietnam when Late Nate, Jr. was born, and was barely there when David came along. Brenda begins, "You know Nate and I were…" Ruth knows, and says, "I know he loved you the very best he could. And I know you needed more. So did I." She says she wants Brenda to "put everything behind us and let me help you, because I know you're going to need it." Brenda thanks Ruth for the first time, and tearily admits she does need help.

And how will Diaz & Diaz react to the buyout? Well, now there's an escrow sign outside the funeral home that Rico and Vanessa are buying, and they're at home, having a celebratory dinner with the kids. The Federiquitos aren't sure they want to move, until they hear they might have their own rooms. Vanessa and Rico clink their champagne glasses and toast to the future. "Yes, baby," Vanessa agrees. I guess she's really forgiven him, now that she gets to wear her hubba-hubba funeral dress every day. Just try not to cheat with any more strippers, Rico.

Claire walks across the Fisher kitchen to the fridge and opens it up, giving us a nice view of the photo of Willa stuck to the door. She hears Ruth crying in the living room, and goes out to find her looking through old photo albums. Claire puts down her water bottle and sits to Ruth, who's saying, "I don't know why I keep looking at these. It certainly doesn't make me feel any better." She closes the album and puts it aside, giving Claire a free path to hug her. Ruth doesn't return the gesture. "I'd give anything if I could make things different for you," Claire says. Even your fancy new job? Well, actually, yeah. "I don't think I'm gonna go to New York," Claire says, shaking her head like, please say no please say no please say no. Ruth's amazed that Claire would do that. She hugs her daughter back and emotionally but firmly says, "Absolutely not. Go. Live. I'll unfreeze your trust fund. Take it and find whatever life has in store for you." Now it's Claire's turn to get weepy, because, money! Claire asks if she'll still move in with George, and Ruth says she's moving in with Sarah. Claire asks if Sarah's back from Costa Rica. Ruth says Bettina's house-sitting, but Ruth's moving in anyway. "If Sarah doesn't like it, it's too fucking bad." Something tells me Bettina won't be asked to housesit again. Claire again offers to wait, but Ruth says she's always regretted staying home to take care of her legless grandmother. Ruth says she doesn't regret her kids or Late Nate, Sr., but she regrets never giving herself a choice. "I won't let you make the same mistake," she tells Claire forcefully. More crying. More hugging.