Episode Report Card Couch Baron: C+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT See No Evil
By Couch Baron | Season 2 | Episode 8 | Aired on 08.30.1998
Cut to Pete doing exactly that, saying it would just be until he finds a place to live. Glynn agrees, although he'll have to stay in Unit B, and he'll be "at risk." Did Poet spread his crack to these characters here? Aside from the fact that I don't think Glynn would have the authority to spend taxpayer money housing someone who's not in the system, the potential lawsuit exposure when (er, I mean "if"!) something untoward happens to Sippel would be prohibitive. Also, it appeared that he was in protective custody during his jail time (and it makes sense that he would have been, because pedophiles are loathed even among prisoners, as the coming Schillinger incident illustrates, yet he survived in Oz for ten years), so why not put him back in there? Can we please come up with a plotline that doesn't resemble the surface of the moon? Lord. Pete's next task is to find Sippel a job, but Mukada, who's lurking in the doorway, says that he's got a discretionary fund from the diocese, and that Sippel can be his assistant. So why doesn't Sippel drag a cot into Mukada's office and sleep there? That couldn't be any worse than the subway, right? What horseshit this is.
Mukada shows Sippel into his office, and claims that he's been in need of an assistant, as he's not very organized. Sippel notes that Mukada is "still" uncomfortable around him, since it's been TWO DAYS since he got out. Mukada is spared from the awkwardness of having to answer by the ringing of his phone, which Sippel answers with a "Chaplain's Office." After a brief conversation, he hangs up and informs Mukada that a patient in the hospital is on the bank of the river Jordan, and would like the Anointing. Mukada gets a box off the shelf and moves toward the door, but Sippel takes the box from him and says, "If I'm really here to help you, Father, then let me help you," because Mukada couldn't handle carrying a two-pound box by himself, I suppose. Mukada hesitantly smiles the smile of I've Just Realized That Child Molesters Are People Too, and they go off together.
Cut to Mukada and Sippel performing the ritual together on the old patient as Gloria watches. Another cut to Mukada coming out to the visitor's entrance, where a twentysomething man thanks Mukada for seeing him. The man, whom we quickly deduce was the boy that Sippel molested, says that between the pervert law and Sippel's release, a lot of old feelings have stirred again in him recently. Mukada says he told Sippel that the Altar Boy Toy was coming, and that he's willing to speak with him. ABT says he's never been to prison before, and Mukada assures him that a hack will be with him the whole time. ABT, darkly: "Yeah? To protect me, or him?" Mukada's face falls as he wonders if ABT didn't get the whole "Perverts Are People Too" memo, even though Sippel managed to disgust him well and good without the whole taking-advantage-of-him-at-fourteen issue. God, this episode. ABT recovers nicely, saying he has no intention of harming Sippel, and indeed, he's not sure why he's there, but he hasn't seen Sippel since the incident happened. "Ten years is a long time to carry this shit inside." Beat. "Sorry to say 'shit' in front of a priest." Mukada doesn't point out that he's heard much, much worse, but instead notes that "sometimes 'shit' is the only word that fits." Meta commentary on the shooting script thus far? Cut to the cafeteria, where the meeting takes place. The two regard each other warily and wordlessly. Scene. No, I'm not kidding. What the fucking hell? Thanks for the undramatic non-resolution there, Fontana. Where's my drink?