"I Can't" refers mostly to Becky, who says she can't take care of a baby, and decides to proceed with an abortion. However, not before Luke -- who has previously been a god-fearing church-goer with pious parents (and in fact gets called out as an inspiration in church) -- tries to convince Becky that they at least need to discuss it. And not before Tim, now back in brother mode but at a loss for solid advice other than that she should tell her mom, takes her to Tami for counselling. Tami's the only woman Tim's ever known who knows the right thing to say, always (other than she assumes Tim's the dad, as does Eric, when he finds out later. Heh.) Tim's greatly relieved when Tami asks him to leave her with Becky for some privacy. It was great to see Tim with Tami again. She brings out this respectful side of him that is so raw and pure, but has rarely been used in his messed-up (but sort of awesome) life.
Tami in fact begins by not alluding to abortion as an option, in opposition to the way it feels like counsellors in Texas would be trained. But despite Becky wanting the right advice -- she bluntly asks "What should I do? to Tami -- she seems to have made up her mind to get an abortion, that it's simply guilt gnawing at her. Again, Tami tells her to talk to her mom. She finally does, and there is no ambivalence; her mom takes her to the doctor and flat out dismisses any thoughts of carrying the baby to term. Luke, excluded and distraught, leaks it to his dad, who tells his religious zealot mom. They want to meet Becky, but not before Becky's mom takes her to get the deed done, rather unceremiously.
The scrap yard guy warns Tim that the cops will be on to him if he continues to sell the chopped frames to him. Tim's looking pretty settled into the criminal lifestyle, in his new gaudy plaid shirt, aviators, and stack-o-cash. He later crosses paths with Becky, who's heading to have the abortion. He's dead tired, having been out all night digging car frame graves, and I'm not sure he knows where Becky's going, but it's good that her mother is handling the role that had previously been Tim's til this point.
Tim looks like a genius after Billy suggests driving the frames off a cliff; Tim points out they have no engines at that point. So after some customer is poking around in the Rig under some ever-present drop cloth, Tim draws the line, and suddenly grows a spine. I can't do this anymore, he says to Billy, invoking the ep title. No more chop shop. And stop yelling at me for dropping out of college. AND, I want to be partner. Aw, Timmy! So proud of you, BB!
It's also poignant that Tim is often dandling an old football while he's at home in the Airstream, or puttering around watching Billy (in an apron! lol) fix a food tray for Mins (who's not in this ep). It's kinda the only connection he has to football anymore, other than the stray session helping Eric and the Lions. Most people won't know the glory he had as State Champions, but you really feel what a vacuum it must be for kids like this. The best really may be past.
Becky later talks to Luke after the abortion. He doesn't know it happened, and he's still trying to convince her to talk it out. This is sort of heartbreaking, as he's being really sweet and supportive , and they might have had something real ... may still have something real, if they can put this past them. She is curiously unaffected by the procedure, folding laundry and looking basically relieved. I kind of wish there had been some discomfort, some anguish to symbolize the terribly difficult decision ... but relief probably is the most realistic.
The title of this episode also refers to Vince, whose mom ODs. At the hospital, he's pleading with her to get better, go to rehab, because he just doesn't think he can do it alone. Auuggghhh. Michael Jordan is a really good actor. So much swagger, and then he dissolves into a little boy who needs his mom. Only prob is the low-income rehab program is full til the next ice age, so his only option is one that'll cost $4,000. Interesting twist, he goes to Big Mary (Jess' dad's nickname) for help, but he ain't got it either. However, he does support Vince now otherwise, taking an interest in the Lions, watching practice, etc.
Jess overhears, and yells at him for supporting Vince but not her or her little brothers. This leads to a sweet scene of peewee football, with Big Mary taking over sideline coaching duty from Jess. And a general melting of ice between Jess and Vince, since he's trying to rehabilitate his own image. (Trying - where does the mom rehab money come from, other than boosting cars? Suddenly this is the main industry in Dillon, putting food on the table for just about every character we're following now.) And no sign of Landry, who obviously took a week off from shooting, with Mindy.
Coach is now pals with Big Mary, having beers, sharing tidbits about Vince. BM tells Eric he doesn't know how to coach Vince. He should know, because he was basically Vince in his youth. Don't quash his genius for improvisation, he tells Eric. It works, big shock. Vince is really coming into his own, just in time for the end of season 4.
Julie's basking in the rosy glow of a new romance, with Ryan, the Habitat guy, climbing the Mt. Everest of Dillon, the water tank. Gives her a new perspective on Dillon, which she seems to be more fond of each minute, snaps a pic of her, saying this is you seeing the world. Which feels like it should have more meaning than I'm getting. That Dillon is her world, and that may be enough? Help me out here. She invites him for dinner chez Taylors, which doesn't exactly go well. Eric will never be happy with any of Julie's boyfriends, but he looks totally baffled as Ryan asks if the predicted rain will be weird for the game. Even artsy Matt played football, but he has nothing in common with Ryan -- except Julie.
Next week: Speaking of Matt, he apparently finally calls Jules, who won't talk to him then. Tami gets in trouble for advocating abortion for Becky. Luke's painkiller addiction continues. Vince reverts to thuggery. Tim throws a packet of money on Kitty's desk, seemingly having made enough blood money to buy the land. And Becky's mom does a major cougar pounce on Tim.