We're Not from Here

"We're Not from Here"

"We're Not From Here" is the 2^nd episode in the third season of the television series How I Met Your Mother. It originally aired on October 1, 2007.

Synopsis

Realizing women are attracted to Gael because he is from out of town and has an accent, Barney and Ted pose as tourists to meet women. Robin evolved into a new person in Argentina, but once back in New York City, she becomes annoyed at things that she loved on vacation. When Gael brings Australian travelers to live with them, she finds it hard not to return to her old self. Meanwhile, Marshall writes a letter to Lily for his "death folder," which contains important information and comforting words for the surviving spouse if the other dies. He is tempted and opens her letter to him prematurely, but finds it is short and impersonal. They subsequently have their first fight as a married couple.

Full Plot

Lily & Marshall explain they are writing their 'death folders' containing useful information should either of them die and a letter to one another, Marshall tells Ted and Barney that he forgot to write his letter. Ted and Barney play on Marshall's superstitious nature by insisting he will not die before writing it, forcing Marshall to perform a few rituals before leaving.

Older Ted narrates that Robin needed time away following their break-up and we see her on holiday with Gael, saying she felt up-tight in New York. Back in the bar she claims to be a different person but Barney says Robin is still the same, she will realise this and dump Gael soon. When Gael joins them, the gang use big words in order to continue their conversation without letting on, Gael asks if they are talking about Baseball.

Marshall writes his letter to Lily, pouring his heart (and tears) out over many pages. Once finished, he decides to read Lily's letter to him and is angry to discover it is not as heart-felt as his.

At the bar, Gael is surrounded by women while Ted and Barney lament how easy it is for Gael to get girls simply by being from out of town. This gives them the idea to pose as tourists outside MacLaren's and they strike up a conversation with two passing girls. The girls agree to show the guys around the following day and Barney suggests they meet up outside MacLaren's but the girls think it's a lame bar. Ted tries to defend his favourite watering hole, without revealing he is a New Yorker.

Inside, Lily asks Robin how things are going with Gael and Robin reveals she has become annoyed doing things at home that she loved on holiday, such as being hand-fed her food by Gael (dropping spaghetti on her sofa) and him sweeping the table clear to make love (breaking her laptop). Robin says she won't complain and go with the flow but when she is in the shower later, a strange Australian traveller uses her toilet. Robin goes to speak to Gael but discovers he has invited more travellers to stay with them.

Marshall starts an argument with Lily over her loveless letter. They exchange a quick hug after Lily mentions this is their first fight as a married couple before Marshall continues to storm out.

The girls (Colleen and Lindsay) take Ted and Barney to a potato restaurant. When the girls go to the bathroom, Ted says they have met the "two lamest New Yorkers of all time", but Barney convinces Ted to continue with the plan and the girls decide to take Ted and Barney to a friend's party.

Robin reveals she ate a marijuana-laced Blueberry muffin causing her to say some inappropriate things on the air, so she tries to lay some ground-rules but the group are watching the TV and so Robin decides to lie down as she is still "pretty baked".

Ted, Barney, Colleen and Lindsay are in a cab on their way to the party, Ted questions where they are going and is terrified to learn they are heading for the south Bronx. His fears are confirmed as they end up giving descriptions to the Police of three guys who have apparently mugged them.

Marshall quizzes Lily over why she couldn't write a love letter like he did and Lily states it is because she cannot bear to think about not being with him and that he would just open the letter and read it as soon as she has finished writing anyway. Marshall promises he won't so Lily agrees to write her letter, but Marshall asks her to make the letter dirty and slip in some polaroids too.

Back on the street, Ted and Barney are invited back to the girls' place but Ted finally snaps when he finds out the girls are actually from New Jersey. Ted chastises the girls about not being from New York and derides New Jersey. He tells them to go home, which they do via a lift from the Cops. Ted and Barney try to get the same courtesy but one Cop refuses by stating he is "Newark, born and raised".

Robin is woken by the sound of bongo drums and confronts 'vacation Robin' in the living room who tells her that she has lost her way since coming home, Robin retorts by saying that her vacation self is boring, lame and getting sand everywhere. As the two are about to kiss, Robin is really woken by drums and finds the group of travellers playing in the living room. She finally gets rid of them by brandishing her gun but the shouting wakes Gael and Robin tells him they have to break up.

Barney toasts the return of the real Robin while she mentions that 'vacation Robin' popped up in her dreams again and they went all the way as "that chick knows what I like", naturally intriguing Barney.

Lily finishes her letter and makes Marshall swear not to read it until she is dead. Older Ted narrates that he kept his promise until the year 2029 when we see an older, balding Marshall opening the letter (implying that Lily has died) to find Lily's words telling him he is busted. Marshall calls Lily, older and very much alive, into his office and they argue. Marshall says Lily also broke her promise as there are no naked pictures in the envelope for him so Lily says she will take some photos. Marshall says he doesn't want ones of her now and they continue to argue into the credits.

Music

• "Somebody's Me" (English version of "Alguien Soy Yo") by Enrique Iglesias

Continuity

• Barney and Ted take advantage of Marshall's superstitious nature by stating that he will not die before writing his "death folder" letter. He subsequently knocks on wood, throws salt over his left shoulder, and spins around three times.
• Robin pulls out her gun to get rid of the unwanted Australian visitors.
• 2029 Marshall has a newspaper clip in his office with the caption "NYC Lawyer Captures Nessie", an alluding to his obsession with the Loch Ness Monster.

External links

• "We're Not From Here" at TV.com
• "We're Not From Here" at IMDb