We start in 2030, where the kids are listening. Future!Ted talks about how early Robin’s show is. She asks Ted if he watched but he said he was busy sleeping. She tells him about Don Frank, who has made a career being a morning newsperson. Robin then excuses herself to go to the roof and stand there on the roof. Future!Ted then tells his kids that Robin really went to have a cigarette. “WHAT?” the kids shout. Future!Ted reveals Aunt Robin liked the occasional cigarette…and by occasional, Robin means all the time. She even smokes while doing yoga. Ted chases her to the roof. Marshall gives her the usual “It’s disgusting…” before asking if he could bum one. “WHAT?” the kids shout again.
Credits!
Marshall began smoking at the age of 13. And every cigarette is his last one. Ted tries to lecture him but Marshall says it is just because he is stressed at work. His old boss, with whom Marshall had a shouting match, is now in charge of the legal department. He’s been firing people left and right. Barney mentions they fired “What’s his face.” “What’s his face” was apparently important, according to Marshall. Ted asks about Lily. Marshall says he has a system—he puffs, he showers, he spritzes and Lily still finds out.
Meanwhile, Robin is immediately deillusioned by Don when he reveals he doesn’t give a crap because their audience is a half-drunk slob. Robin wants to do a good show for him. Don wishes her well and then stretches, revealing he has no pants on.
Marshall, feeling stressed, escapes to his business’ roof where he runs into Arthur, smoking. Arthur, the boss, offers him a cigarette and mourns the good old days when he could bond with someone over a cigarette. So Marshall takes one and gets treated to pictures of his dog.
Coming back, Lily catches Marshall. He says he is a smoker and even bought a box, lighter and Viking lamp. Lily’s upset. Smoking is a filthy habit and they already have three Viking lamps. She demands he hands over the box and immediately lights up. “WHAT?” Yes, Aunt Lily would fall off the wagon with her husband.
Meanwhile, Robin is trying to get the mayor on the show. Don thinks her enthusiasm is adorable. She tells him that he may be bitter but she still has dreams of being on a network. He tells her he was on a network. Everyone gasps and he talks about Labor Day weekend and a dressing room. They are all impressed. Robin joins Lily and Marshall smoking outside MacLaren’s. They haven’t seen her show, which depresses her.
Inside, Ted and Barney reminisce about when smoking was allowed in bars. We cut to a smoke filled scene, where Marshall has to play Marco Polo with the two to find the booth. They decide to go out and smoke. “WHAT?” Barney explains he smokes pre-coital, post-coital and during pregnancy scares. Ted asks why he is smoking and Barney says he’s always pre-coital.
But the gang realizes they have to quit. Lily sounds like Harvey Fierstein, Ted gets winded going up his stairs, Barney finds a stain on his tie and Marshall watches Arthur suffer a heart attack.
On the roof, the gang promises to quit. Marshall wants to go and stop his 13 years-old self from smoking. He beats the kid up. They force Barney to do so as Robin shows up. She was able to get the mayor to do her show. They gang congrats her and they convince her to smoke. They agree to stop together. They start bickering at MacLaren’s, where they are pigging out. Instead of punching Ted, though, Marshall goes to kick his younger self some more.
Meanwhile, Robin lets Don have it, calling him a loser and a slob. He tells her the mayor cancelled and they can’t even get their cameraman to watch the show. He tries to get Robin to smoke on camera, but the gang calls. They are watching at Ted’s and convince her not to. She tosses the cigarette into Don’s coffee. And it explodes.
The gang is proud of Robin…but they race to the roof for a cigarette. Even Robin buys a box. She’s happy they watched her show and Lily tells her she should date Don. Robin says no. Future!Ted says they’ll be dating in 3 months. They watch the sunrise where Robin declares it the perfect time for a last cigarette. And they light up on the count of three. Future!Ted reveals it wasn’t their last cigarette ever. Robin’s was in June 2013. Barney’s was in 2017. Lily’s was when she decided to try to get pregnant. Marshall’s was when his son was born. And Ted’s was two weeks into dating the Mother.
Tag: Marshall goes to see his younger self and gives him a picture of Lily as a peace offering. Younger Marshall goes into the tent as Marshall leaves.
I thought this was cute and had its moments. I liked the Robin-Don interactions as well as Lily’s Harvey Fierstein voice. But I wonder…did they film generic shots with the kids? Because that looks like David Henrie and Lindsay Fonesca from the beginning and I’ve seen David Henrie since. He can’t be made to look like a kid anymore.
Quote of the Episode:
“I think that cute girl over there is smiling at me.” --Ted
“Umm, that’s a chair. But you go hit that.” --Barney
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