As the sixth episode of "The Bear" unwraps, Mikey (portrayed by Jon Bernthal) immerses his hands in the trickle of water, his eyes fixed on the culinary artistry he's about to embark on. He turns to Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) and Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), offering them a tale to accompany their morning. Mikey recounts their late-night escapade, finding themselves at Ceres - a bar nestled at the foot of the Board of Trade building. This hidden gem opened its doors at a precocious 6:30 AM, catering to traders who'd lost their shirts on the opening bell. Its namesake, Ceres, the Goddess of Agriculture, overlooked the city from her perch atop the building, her back facing east as a nod to the trading world's westward shift. The bar's architect, John Storrs, purportedly crafted the statue as a cheeky middle finger to the establishment.
Mikey continues, describing their surprise upon finding the bar anything but a ghost town. Instead, it was a bustling hive of activity, filled to the brim with Blackhawks fans and none other than Denis 'Savvy' Savard himself. Chelios Belfour was also in attendance, celebrating Savvy's induction into the Hall of Fame the previous evening. Richie stumbled upon a pamphlet detailing the bar's history and the Goddess, a discovery that led him to believe he had a special connection to agriculture. Amused by his own folly, Richie recorded an outgoing message, little knowing it would soon become the center of attention.
Suddenly, a voice interrupted their revelry, asking what they were up to. They turned to find Bill Murray standing before them, his eyebrows raised in quizzical amusement. Richie thought it was hilarious, but Murray disagreed, demanding Richie's phone. Richie repeats this amusing anecdote on a date with Erica (Abby Pierce), offering her a chance to hear the message if she dialed his number. But Erica seems unimpressed, her disbelief evident as Richie describes their early morning bar adventure. Richie's enthusiasm wanes as he realizes their connection isn't as deep as he'd hoped, and he ends the night walking home alone.
The next day, Richie shows Tina (Liza Colon-Zayas) a picture of the woman from the night before, and Tina comments on her nice eyes. Richie laments her lack of humor and apparent ignorance of Chicago's rich history. Manny (Richard Esteras) shouts orders, demanding the green tape be removed before it reaches him, his hands too soapy to do the job himself. Carmy announces they have two hours before the service begins, and the restaurant buzzes with the preparations for the day ahead.
Sydney (portrayed by Ayo Edebiri) eagerly approached Carmen, urging him to take a peek at the latest culinary creation she had devised. This dish, she assured him, would be a hit for take-out, utilizing ingredients they already had in stock. Carmen, however, appeared deep in thought. He revealed that he had contacted all the places Sydney had previously worked at, and they all spoke highly of her intelligence, talent, impatience, and inexperience. He simply asked for a moment to digest it all.
Carmen then inquired if Sydney was confident that her new dish wouldn't disrupt the smooth operation of the kitchen. He also wanted to know if she had consulted with Manny and Angel (played by Jose Cervantes). Sydney nodded, reassuring him that she had. Carmen expressed his hope that she understood his perspective, as they were finally settling into a groove where things were running more smoothly. He wanted to maintain that calm as long as possible.
Suddenly, Sugar pounded on the door, cursing Carmen's name. As Carmen stepped outside, Sugar demanded to know if he had received the information she needed. She then launched into a rant about the Internal Revenue Service. Apparently, the business had been neglecting its tax obligations for five years, and Sugar, somehow a co-owner of this chaotic enterprise, was facing the prospect of her home being seized if she didn't pay up. She had sacrificed precious time to gather the necessary documents to minimize the financial blow. She pleaded with Carmen to retrieve the 2018 payroll records for her.
Richie emerged from the building, curious about the commotion. Natalie and Carmen ducked inside to sift through the paperwork, Natalie cursing Mikey for his shoddy organization skills. Richie stepped out for a cigarette break and stumbled upon the news that a nearby building was up for a new lease.
Gary (portrayed by Corey Hendrix) turned to Marcus (played by Lionel Boyce) with a quizzical expression, asking if he should be wearing a gas mask. Marcus assured him he was fine, then shared a story about Richard Hart from Hart Bageri in Copenhagen. Gary reminded him that he would be there to lend a hand if Marcus ever needed it. Gary recalled his own struggles when he was trying to make a name for himself in baseball. Playing on the farm team, he felt overlooked and underappreciated. With limited funds, he had honed his skills in finding makeshift accommodations. Marcus clarified that he wasn't homeless; he had simply started sleeping there to save time on his commute. He was close to perfecting the donuts and was determined to ensure they were nothing short of excellent.
Marcus is astonished to recall his past as a Cubs player. Sydney approaches Richie with concern, and he confides in her that the atmosphere has shifted since the bar's closure. He admits he didn't frequent the place often, but its presence comforted him. He laments the changes in the neighborhood and urges them to refrain from tampering with the place excessively. He fears that any minor relaxation will lead to sweeping alterations. Richie compares it to a delicate ecosystem sustained by a shared history, love, and respect.
As he begins to regale Sydney with tales of a goddess statue devoid of a face, bullets suddenly shatter the window, accompanied by the roar of a speeding car. Richie rushes outside to confront Crooked John (Vasily Deris), demanding to know if he witnessed the shooter. Richie reminds John of his instructions to wait down the street, not here. Richie is indifferent to John's actions but suggests he relocate to a safer spot and maintain a low profile. John explains that hanging out there is dangerous due to ongoing construction. The ventilation system is defunct, and the entire building is gutted. A new Sweetgreen restaurant is slated to take its place. Richie asks John to investigate the shooting and check on Alice. If he uncovers any leads, Richie offers him permission to stay in the area.
Inside, the others scramble to clean up the mess. Natalie suggests calling the police, but the suggestion is quickly rejected by all. Natalie vents her frustration about potentially losing her home, and Carmy reminds her of the folly of cosigning for a drug addict. She believes he's suppressing his trauma, and their argument escalates until Carmy storms off.
Outside, Richie confides in Carmy that he couldn't find the papers for Sugar. Richie jests about whether they taught accounting at Noma, and Carmy retaliates with a jab about DeVry. Carmy reveals a scar on his arm, a souvenir from Mikey's birthday party when he fell into a barbecue while trying to break up a fight. He wonders if there's a term for fearing good things because one is afraid of the bad that might follow. Richie shares that his child recently asked if his surname, "Bad News," carried a negative connotation. She found it on her mother's phone and joked that he was contagious, always bringing bad tidings.
Marcus diligently labors over his donuts within the confines of the kitchen. Tina gracefully opens the restaurant doors, welcoming the morning, while Richie enthusiastically greets their loyal patrons with a warm smile. Carmen, ever vigilant, cautions them to monitor the stove's intense heat, noting that the chickens are emerging a bit too dark.
Sweeps solemnly promises to clear out the grease trap, but his attention is diverted by a persistent circuit breaker issue. Finally, seizing a moment of peace, he samples Sydney's dish and declares it magnificent, albeit with a slightly tight sauce. He praises their progress, hinting that they are inching closer to introducing it as a specialty, all while tactfully avoiding declaring it perfect. Sydney, eager for validation, is displeased to hear that it's not quite ready. She offers another sample to a curious patron.
Amidst the paperwork search, Carmen's brow furrows in concern as he fears something might be missing. Natalie assures him it's there, but her voice betrays a hint of unease. Suddenly, his gaze lands on a pill bottle nestled in one of the drawers, and Natalie confesses her folly in cosigning, even though Carmen sympathizes, admitting he would have done the same.
Carmen senses the rising tension and asks if Natalie wants to argue, acknowledging her anger towards him. Natalie vents, revealing her frustration that he never asks how she's faring and that they seldom share meaningful moments. She concedes it's childish, but insists that the restaurant consumes him. Carmen counters that she always blames the restaurant, neglecting to mention their mother or Mickey.
Sugar explodes in frustration, lamenting that all their time, money, and hard work seem to evaporate in this place, leaving only chaos and bitterness in its wake. He accuses Natalie of sounding like their mother. Natalie pleads for a semblance of tranquility and stability, longing for a solid foundation. Carmen concedes the reasonableness of her wish for consistency, confessing that he feels trapped, unable to articulate his own feelings. The idea of asking someone how they feel strikes him as absurd. He apologizes and asks how she is feeling, genuinely seeking an answer. Natalie feigns indifference, declaring she's doing just fine.
Finally, Carmen locates the elusive paperwork, and the tension eases slightly. Meanwhile, Sydney keeps a watchful eye on the other employees as John erupts in an argument with someone outside. Richie, alarmed, begins searching for his gun. Sydney intervenes, striving to calm the escalating situation. She manages to defuse the tension enough to learn that the men are named John and Mr. Carl (Richard Cotovsky). The restaurant, once again, hangs in a tenuous balance between chaos and calm.
Richie stumbles upon his gun at a crucial moment, just as Carl and John's argument escalates into another heated spat. He rounds the corner to witness Sydney diffusing the tense situation with a clever ploy of offering food and drinks to the squabbling pair. She strides back inside, nonchalantly informing Richie that everything is under control.
As the cooking resumes with a renewed sense of harmony, Richie attempts to confide in Tina about a recent incident. But Sydney, sensing Richie's agitation, urges him to return to his post at the register. Richie, irritated, lashes out at her, his frustration spilling over into a tantrum as he storms outside. He vents to Tina, lamenting that this place has lost its charm, once a haven of coolness and camaraderie.
Tina, however, is more pragmatic. She urges Richie to go home and cool off, explaining that this place has found its groove and her game has skyrocketed by 300% in just two months. She confesses her fondness for Mikey, but insists that this new life is vibrant, real, and rewarding. Richie counters, dismissively calling them all kids, claiming that Tina is too young and inexperienced to understand. He warns that this fragile ecosystem is delicate and he doesn't need any more drama right now.
When Richie declares his intention to quit, Tina challenges him, asking where he plans to go. She returns to the kitchen, joining the others in their culinary endeavors. Sydney, meanwhile, tells Carmen that he doesn't want to know what transpired outside, despite having just doled out leftovers to soothe some tempers. He apologizes if he was short with her earlier.
As the evening progresses, Richie sits alone on the sidelines, lost in his thoughts. Suddenly, the atmosphere is shattered by the arrival of the police, who confront John and Mr. Carl with serious intent. The scene is tense and uncertain, leaving Richie and the others on edge, wondering what lies ahead.
