Ep 22. Substitute Father

Travis Bickle, ex-cabbie and substitute father, has returned - and this time, his anger may not be restricted to the streets. Louie and Elaine are worried when he comes in to work, acting out of sorts and claiming that he needs to pick up his daughter, Liza, from school. Though Travis assures them that he has everything under control, Louie decides to go with him to make sure that he doesn't cause any trouble.

When they arrive at Liza's school, they find out that she has been expelled. Distraught, Travis tells Louie that he has always been a terrible father figure, despite his best efforts. Louie tries to cheer him up, telling him that he's not the only one who has trouble being a substitute father - she herself has had to step in for her nephew on occasion, and it's not easy.

Meanwhile, at the Sunshine Cab Company, Bobby is trying to deal with his own parental problems. His mother has come to visit and is insisting on staying with him, despite the fact that he lives in a small apartment and has no room for her. The others try to help him out, but none of them can agree on the best course of action. Alex thinks that Bobby should stand up to his mother, while Tony insists that he should just go along with her wishes.

Back at the school, Travis and Louie discover that Liza has been expelled because of a poem she wrote for class - a poem that seems to be about her father. The other students in the class were upset by the graphic nature of the poem and complained to the teacher, who promptly expelled Liza. Travis is outraged and demands to see the principal.

When they meet with the principal, things quickly escalate. Travis becomes more and more aggressive, eventually shoving the principal against a wall. Louie tries to intervene, but it's too late - the police have been called. As they wait for the authorities to arrive, Travis becomes more manic, shouting about how the system has failed him and Liza.

Back at the garage, Bobby is dealing with his own parental issues. His mother is driving him crazy, rearranging his apartment and criticizing his lifestyle. It's clear that the two of them have a strained relationship, but Bobby isn't sure how to fix it. Tony tries to offer some advice, but it only seems to make things worse.

Back at the school, Travis has been taken into custody. As he's being led away, he tells Louie that he's sorry for dragging her into this mess. Louie is disappointed in him, but at the same time, she feels a sort of sympathy for him. Despite his flaws, it's clear that he loves his daughter and only wants the best for her.

At the end of the episode, the two storylines come together. Travis has been released from jail and has come back to the garage to apologize to Louie and the others. He still feels terrible about what he did, but he's committed to being a better father figure to Liza. Meanwhile, Bobby has decided to take Tony's advice and make peace with his mother, using his skills as a chess player to find a way to connect with her.

Overall, "Substitute Father" is a poignant and powerful episode that explores the difficulties of parenthood and the lengths that we'll go to in order to protect the people we love. With strong performances from the entire cast and a heartfelt script, it's a standout episode in a series that was already filled with great moments. Whether you're a fan of the show or just looking for a well-crafted drama, "Substitute Father" is definitely worth your time.