Friday Night Lights Episode 2.06 How Did I Get Here

On the way back to Texas, Street contemplates his upcoming 19th birthday party. What the hell is he doing with his life? Tami's ready to go back to work, and her sister Shelly, with whom she's always had a stormy relationship, is coming to take care of Grace. Still, the sisters are overjoyed to see each other. Tami tells Taylor that something's wrong with his paycheck. It looks like he's taken a 40% salary cut.

Taylor proceeds to Garrity motors where Buddy's Wild Hog Sale is in progress. Buddy's got Santiago chasing a hog in a pen, and has high hopes to sell 150 cars in one day. Buddy admits that Taylor's paycheck has been reduced by 37%. Booster club funds have been depleted from paying off MacGregor's contract. Buddy promises to do his best to fix it.

The team is happy to see Riggins, but his locker has been cleaned out. Riggins asks Taylor for one more chance, but Taylor refuses. Tami returns to work, and new student and cheerleader Lauren introduces herself to Saracen in the hall. Buddy brings Santiago to see Taylor. Santiago's just enrolled and school and wants to try out for the team. He's a great athlete, but has never played football, and has a lot of catching up to do.

Landry admits to Chad that he's depressed because Tyra dumped him. Chad tries to reassure Landry that there will be other girls, but Landry doesn't think there'll be one like Tyra. Shelly gives Julie a revealing top, a gift from her trip to Brazil. Since Tami can't come, she wants Julie to go on her next trip to Costa Rica. As consolation prize, Shelly offers to take Tami to a Dixie Chicks concert, but Taylor reminds that it's the same night as the booster club meeting. Tami says there's no way she can go to the concert.

Taylor drops by to welcome Street back to town, and ask him to come back to coaching. Taylor admits he needs help, and he needs someone he can trust. Lyla stops by Riggins' to ask if he'll teach Santiago football. He's kicked off the team, so why would he help? She points out that she helped when he asked; he can consider this a return favor to her. After getting killed on the field, Smash asks Taylor to reinstate Riggins. Taylor gets angry when Smash accuses him of throwing away the season to prove a point.

Billy and Riggins visit Tami. She wants to discuss how the trip to Mexico has jeopardized Riggins' academics, but the guys are most concerned with getting Riggins back on the team. They want Tami to talk to Taylor, but she tells them to do it themselves. Detective Blair has been called in to work on the murder case. He tells Chad they found some upholstery fiber on the dead guy belonging to three different model GM station wagons, just like Landry's.

Taylor meets with Buddy and Principal Brecker to discuss the salary snafu. They have found some funds set aside for the part-time position of Athletic Director, a department which Brecker says runs itself. This will get Taylor's paycheck within spitting distance of last year. Buddy swears it's only temporary. Smash demands that Riggins come to dinner at his house to talk about how he's messing up the team. Julie apologizes to Saracen for everything, and they agree to be friends.

Street visits Lyla in church for a talk with the only person he knows in town who has successfully changed her life. He admires her and wants to know how to change. Lyla's advice: just do it. Over dinner, Smash tells Riggins that Taylor needs to see him take it up a notch. Neither of them can be who they are without football, it's the keys to the ignition.

Chad confronts Landry about the upholstery fibers, and Landry breaks down, admitting it just happened, and he didn't mean to do it. Chad orders Landry to get in the car and follow him. Everyone attends Street's birthday party, where they sit around watching videos of his glory days. When Julie sees Saracen making out with Lauren, Tyra offers a shoulder to cry on. Street gives Taylor all his videos and quits his job. He wants to change his life. Taylor reminds Street that he lifts up everyone around him, a powerful gift.

Landry follows Chad to a remote area. Chad douses Landry's car in gasoline and lights it on fire. Girls soccer coach Bobbie Roberts stops by to see Taylor in his capacity as Athletic Director. She is mad that girls' sports don't get the same attention as football - for instance, she would have called, but she doesn't have a phone. She promises to visit everyday until the disparity is fixed. Taylor threatens to kill Buddy.

Shelly comes home with a bottle of wine. Tami can't drink because she's breastfeeding, but Shelly has read that a glass is okay with some compensation. The sisters snipe at each other, and Tami admits that she just realized that she's signed on to another 16 years of motherhood, only to yield another Julie who'll be mean to her. Shelly admits her childless life is lonely and pathetic, and the sisters indulge in a glass of wine.

While drinking beer in the football bleachers, Riggins notices Santiago working out on the field. After learning that Santiago has no designs on Lyla, Riggins offers to teach Santiago, and they are soon joined by Smash and Saracen. Taylor passes by and invites Santiago to attend practice, but Riggins isn't even close to being allowed back on the team.