Parenthood Episode 6.07 These Are the Times We Live In

Amber has embarked on an adventure in babysitting Max and Nora, and at 6 a.m., both kids are are up and at 'em. Max in particular is worked up about the next day's trip to Alcatraz, already concerned about making the ferry on time. Zeek is on a trip of his own, having hoodwinked Drew into driving to Big Top Burger in Oakland. Drew isn't happy about being conned into Zeek's game to get around Camille's rules, but for Zeek, it's all a big joke. Did Drew think there were no strings attached to the car his grandfather gave him? That afternoon, Max is at Hank's studio, borrowing an expensive lens, when Ruby storms in, wailing that she needs to go to a new school. Hanks doesn't get it, but Sarah does, asking, "What's his name?" She walks Ruby out the door, leaving Hank to freak out - "Who's Jake?"

Joel and Julia are at the lawyer, wrapping up their divorce settlement, and it's finally time to talk about the house. Julia proposes selling it and splitting the profits 50/50, but Joel wants Julia and the kids to stay in the house. She can have it. Their faces are glum in the elevator, and before long the emotion of conscious uncoupling has them crying in each other's arms. Later, Julia stops by Joel's apartment to give him a chance to change his mind about the house; the smart thing to do is split the asset. Joel can't detach. The house is more than just an asset, it's a home. He knows he hurt Julia, and owns that, but if he can't have Julia, he doesn't want the house.

Drew is struggling with his new major and having a hard time prepping for an economics test when Zeek calls. They're going on an adventure Drew will never forget! Across town, Amber has the kids all set for the trip to Alcatraz. Max is all up in her Kool-Aid, so she doesn't spy Nora hiding the keys. When Max realizes Amber can't find the keys, and they're not going to make the ferry, it's an inevitable countdown to a total Asperger's explosion.

Sarah and Ruby are bonding over bad boys and watching "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" when Sandy arrives. Unhappy with Sarah's choice of film - which she thinks glorifies sexual promiscuity - Sandy snarks about different parenting styles. Rather than defend Sarah, Hank claims he has to pick up the lens he loaned to Max and runs for the door, leaving Sarah in the wind. At Adam and Kristina's, Hank blows past Amber, who's crying and at her wit's end, to focus on Max, who's walking off his meltdown. It's a meeting of the minds as man and teen walk and breathe and explain their problems to each other, discussing the difficulty of human relations. When Hank calms down, he realizes he panicked and walked out on Sarah, the one person besides Ruby whom he really loves. Hank returns home to apologize to Sarah, who explains that his apology doesn't solve their issue with Sandy. Sandy's problem isn't about the movie - she's threatened by Sarah's bonding with Ruby. Hank still can't understand why Sandy would argue about a movie when she's upset about something else - just like Amber crying over her bad day with Max. For a second time, Sarah is stunned by Hank's inability to see what's in front of his face, and she rushes off to Adam and Kristina's. Sarah finds Max and the dog pigging out on junk food and watching Chucky movies; the system has broken down. Amber is upstairs, having finally gotten Nora to sleep. Amber relates the entire tragedy of her day - she's going to be a complete failure as a mom. Sarah knows it's all her fault for letting Amber watch "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" too early, then assures Amber she's not in this parenthood thing alone. It's all going to be okay, and Amber will be a great mom.

It's a long drive to a mini-mall that didn't used to exist, and Zeek blusters all the way. Drew's irate when he discovers Zeek brought him all this way to teach him how to shoot cans of creamed corn, just like Zeek's father taught him. When Zeek pulls out his gun, Drew boils over, ordering his grandfather back in the car. That night, Drew tells Natalie all about his afternoon with Zeek. At first, Natalie laughs at the notion of Drew shooting guns, until she learns he aborted the afternoon's adventure with Grandpa. Drew's being really selfish; the drive was about creating a great memory for Drew, just the way Zeek's dad created a great memory for him.

Sandy's surprised when Hank knocks on her door with obvious news: Sarah's not going to take over as Ruby's mother. Sandy thinks Hank's trying to pick a fight, but what he's really trying to do is explain she was never the problem in their marriage - he has Asperger's. Sandy's stunned, it's like a light bulb and a baseball bat to the head all at the same time. For once, Hank and Sandy are on steady ground. The next day, Sandy stops by to pick up Ruby with big plans. She finally found a Yogurtland with taro root-flavored yogurt. When a rarely excited Ruby asks if Hank can come along, Sarah steps back, letting the family moment proceed without her.

Julia is contemplating her divorce papers when there's a knock at the door. She forgot all about her date with Chris! Sensing her upset, Chris offers to postpone their date, but Julia invites him to stay, since there's no reason he can't come in anymore. They share a bottle of wine, and Chris is wonderfully supportive, but Julia pointedly doesn't ask him to stay the night. Across town, an emotional Joel stops by to thank Zeek, and to say goodbye to his father-in-law forever. Zeek's not having it - why the hell is Joel giving up? Zeek took Joel in as a son when he married Julia, and if he loves her, he better damn well fight for her. The next morning Drew finds Zeek eating forbidden cookies and putting golf balls in the living room. It's time for a jail break - need to know basis only! Drew drives Zeek out to a shooting range where he has a pyramid of canned creamed corn all stacked up. Zeek is in seventh heaven, teaching his grandson how to shoot a gun - a great memory in the making.

It's dark by the time Joel knocks on Julia's door. A year ago, she asked him to fight for her, and he was too stupid to listen. Now, he doesn't want to live another day, not another second without her. Now he wants her back.