S01E16 - The Words
"The Words" is the sixteenth episode of Season 1 of We Can Fix Pawbert.
Synopsis
Pawbert faces his victims in a structured accountability session facilitated by Dr. Fuzzby, apologizing to each in the order he harmed them. Each victim responds differently -- Gary forgives, Nibbles dismisses, Judy refuses forgiveness but chooses to see who Pawbert is becoming, and Nick declares he will stay in the room while Pawbert learns to carry it.
Plot
At Site Two, Pawbert breaks down while cooking, describing the memories that won't let him rest: the syringe, Judy's neck, her body seizing. Nick's face when he realized what was happening. Gary begging in the snow. Nibbles on the ground. Nick tells him that drowning in guilt silently doesn't help anyone, including the people he hurt. Judy suggests a real apology—not in a hallway, not in passing—facilitated by Dr. Fuzzby.
The session takes place in person at Fuzzby's office. Gary and Nibbles join via video link on a tablet. Before Pawbert begins, Fuzzby outlines the structure: own the behavior without excuses, name the impact without asking for comfort, and offer repair through demonstrable change. She tells the victims their job is not to forgive—it's to tell the truth of their experience and set whatever boundaries they need. To Luther, she assigns the role of support without rescue: he cannot speak for Pawbert, explain for him, or minimize anything.
Pawbert apologizes in the order he harmed each victim, starting with Gary. He tells Gary he was the first real friend Pawbert ever had, someone who trusted him and showed him Reptile Ravine, and Pawbert betrayed that trust. He knew Gary was cold-blooded, knew the temperature was dropping, knew Gary would die without warmth. And he walked away. Gary's response is immediate and disarming: he already forgave Pawbert. Scared mammals do scary things, Gary explains, and he knows what scared looks like. The betrayal hurt—not just the cold, but knowing Pawbert chose his family over their friendship. But Pawbert is here now, saying he's sorry, and Gary can tell he means it. He asks for a symbolic hug through the screen, wrapping his coils around the camera.
Nibbles is next. Her response is pure chaos: she's fine, she's moved on, the near-death experience is great branding for her podcast. Nick stares at the screen in disbelief as Nibbles pivots to inviting Pawbert on her show after his "legal things" are done.
Judy's turn is harder. Pawbert describes preparing the venom ahead of time, bringing it with him, watching her body seize. He acknowledges that he made her feel helpless—that for a cop who spends her life running toward danger, being paralyzed and alone was devastating. Judy doesn't forgive him. She explains that forgiveness isn't something she can give right now, maybe not ever. But she can choose to see who Pawbert is becoming instead of only who he was. She challenges him to prove her right.
Nick speaks last. The worst part, he says, wasn't the fight or the ice or thinking he might die. It was the moment Pawbert told him Judy was dead—and Nick believed it. For those few seconds, Nick thought he'd lost everything. Pawbert weaponized their love, used it as a knife, told Nick his partner was gone just to watch him break. Nick's verdict is precise: he is not Pawbert's absolution. Pawbert doesn't get to apologize and walk away clean. He carries what he did, every day. But Nick is willing to be in the room while Pawbert learns to carry it. He won't forgive, but he won't walk away either.
After the call ends and Nick and Judy step outside, Fuzzby works with Pawbert alone. She teaches him an anchor phrase: "My guilt is real. But it is not instructions." She explains that guilt is data—it tells him something went wrong—but it's not a command. It doesn't get to decide his future. The harder part now is living as someone who did terrible things and is choosing to be better anyway.
In the tag, Pawbert sits in the dark living room with his mother's photo. Luther sits beside him without touching. Pawbert repeats the anchor phrase, twice, and lets himself be held without asking. The weight doesn't disappear, but he isn't carrying it alone.
Key Moments
- Facilitated apology session at Dr. Fuzzby's office
- Pawbert delivers individualized apologies in the order he harmed each victim
- Gary forgives immediately, explaining that holding onto anger hurts him more than letting it go
- Gary asks for a symbolic hug through the screen
- Nibbles dismisses the trauma with chaotic irreverence, calling it great branding
- Judy refuses to forgive but chooses to see who Pawbert is becoming
- Judy challenges Pawbert to prove her right
- Nick declares he is not Pawbert's absolution
- Nick will not forgive but will not walk away—he chooses to stay in the room
- Fuzzby teaches Pawbert the anchor phrase for carrying guilt
- Pawbert processes the session weight with Luther in the tag
Key Lines
| Line | Speaker | Context |
|---|---|---|
| "Because holding onto it hurts ME more than letting it go!" | Gary | Explaining his forgiveness |
| "Permission to hug? I mean—through the screen? Like a symbolic hug?" | Gary | Gary's characteristic warmth |
| "I can't forgive you. But I can choose to see who you're becoming." | Judy | Conditional observation, not absolution |
| "Prove me right." | Judy | Challenge to Pawbert |
| "I am not your absolution. But I'm willing to be in the room while you learn to carry it." | Nick | Definitive accountability statement |
| "My guilt is real. But it is not instructions." | Fuzzby / Pawbert | Anchor phrase for carrying guilt |
Locations
- Site Two -- Kitchen, living room
- Dr. Fuzzby's office -- Location of the facilitated apology session
Items
- Green sweater -- Present during the session
- Tablet with video feeds -- Used for Gary and Nibbles to join remotely
- Mother's photo -- Pawbert holds it in the tag scene
Notes
- Each victim's response represents a different valid reaction to harm: forgiveness (Gary), deflection (Nibbles), conditional observation (Judy), and principled presence (Nick).