Ep 12. Memories of Cab 804 (2)

Tony Banta can't seem to crack a smile as he loses yet another boxing match. His haphazard trainer, Louie, tells him to smile more and enjoy the night. The boxing ring is the only place he feels good, the only place he can feel in control, except his latest loss has pushed him too far.

Later that night, Tony's cab is called in to pick up a passenger with a mysterious destination: he wants to go to 804 but doesn't know the street or location. The man is clearly disturbed, with wild eyes and shaking hands. Tony is suspicious but is essentially a driver for hire, so he takes the man where he asks.

As they drive through the city, the man becomes more and more agitated. He keeps repeating that he just needs to see the cab that "used to be here" and that he is "running out of time." Tony tries to talk to him, to figure out what he means, but the man is nonresponsive and too focused on what he needs to do.

Finally, they arrive at the location the man calls 804. It's a small, rundown lot with nothing but junk cars and old tires scattered around. The man frantically looks around until he finally spots the cab he's been looking for - it's a battered, worn-down yellow taxi.

Tony is confused - he's never seen this cab before. The man rushes over to it and starts to talk to it, as if it's alive. He tells it about his wife, about how they used to ride in the cab all the time, about the day they got in a horrible accident in the cab and she died. He begs the cab for forgiveness, for not being able to save her.

Tony is touched by the man's obvious pain and tries to console him. He tells him that sometimes there's just nothing you can do, that accidents happen, that it's not his fault. The man is grateful but still focused on his apology to the cab.

Finally, he gets out a small brush and starts to dust off the hood of the car. Tony tries to stop him but realizes that this is something the man needs to do, for his own peace of mind. The man finishes his cleaning and then walks away, looking more at peace than he has all night.

As they drive back to the garage, Tony can't shake the feeling that something important has happened. He starts to think about his own life, about the things he's lost and the things he's gained. When he arrives home, he looks around at his apartment with new eyes. He's grateful for what he has, for the friends he's made, for the experiences he's had.

The next day, Tony goes to the gym with a new attitude. Louie is shocked to see him smiling and joking around, to see him having fun. Tony starts to see that winning or losing isn't the most important thing, that sometimes just showing up and doing your best is enough.

The episode ends with a shot of the cab, still standing in the lot, with a new coating of dust and dirt on it. Tony drives by, pausing for a moment to think about all that cab has seen, all the lives it's touched. He waves to it and continues on his way, ready for whatever comes next.