TEXT: INT. APARTMENT (Ted opening wedding invitation, Ted sits down and looks at R.S.V.P card, makes check mark) Future Ted VO: When you're single and your friends start to get married, every wedding invitation presents a strange moment of self-evaluation. Will you be bringing a guest or will you be attending alone? What it's really asking is where do you see yourself in three months? Sitting next to your girlfriend or hitting on a bridesmaid? I always checked that I was bringing a guest. I was an optimist. ('Two Months and 26 Days Later,' Ted sitting on couch talking on phone) Ted: Who the hell am I gonna bring to this wedding? (screen splits, Barney in cab on phone on left side of screen, Ted on right side) Barney: Ted, have you ignored all my teachings? Ted: For the most part, yeah. Barney: You don't bring a date to a wedding. That's like bringing a deer carcass on a hunting trip. Oh Ted, oh Ted, no, no date. Ted: Deer carcass, really? That's the metaphor you're going for? Barney: Ted, it's a simile. Ted: Well, it's too late now. If I don't bring a date, a $200 piece of chicken-slash-salmon will go uneaten. I gotta bring someone, but who? Future Ted VO: Of course I knew who I wanted to bring: Robin. (TV screen showing Robin reporting in front of bridge) Future Ted VO: The big unanswered question in my life. Problem was, she was dating this really rich guy named Derek. (shot of Derek and Robin sitting in back of car) Future Ted VO: Pft, Derek. INT. MACLAREN'S (Marshall, Lily, Ted and Barney sit at booth, Robin stands by booth) Robin: Well, Derek and I just broke up. Lily: No, that's terrible, are you OK? Marshall: Yeah, do you need a drink or something? (Robin sits down next to Lily) Robin
SUMMARY:
Ted's decision to bring Robin as his date to a friend's wedding leads to an argument between the bride and the groom that abruptly ends the wedding. Ted and Marshall comfort the bride and groom and urge them to resume the wedding. They agree, but a last-minute opportunity at work leads Robin to unexpectedly cancel, leaving Ted to go alone.