Episode Report Card Couch Baron: A | 496 USERS: B YOU GRADE IT The Way We Were
By Couch Baron | Season 1 | Episode 17 | Aired on 2007.02.26
Downstairs, Lyle is trying to be a hero by braining Sprague with a baseball bat, but Sprague sees him coming a mile away and pushes him to the floor. Parkman and Bennet get down there at that moment, but honestly, Sprague doesn't even seem pissed off about that one. How unthreatening do you have to be not to cause even a blip on Mr. Nuclear's Anger-O-Meter? Poor Lyle. Parkman tells Sprague that what they want is at the paper factory -- records of the abductions, which Bennet will trade in exchange for his family's safety. Now that they've established that Parkman is taking his cues from Bennet, we're not actually hearing the thoughts, which is fine with me. Sprague is skeptical, but Parkman convinces him Bennet's telling the truth. However, when Parkman tells him to go with Bennet while he stays with the family, Sprague insists they reverse the assignments. Bennet agrees to that, but since we didn't hear the communications, we don't know if that was his actual goal or not. He tells his wife he's going to get them out of their predicament. Sprague looks at his watch and says it's seven AM, and Bennet's got an hour before the rest of the house goes the way of his cheap door handle. Lingering shot on Sandra holding Lyle...
... and then we're back to fourteen years ago, as Bennet is telling Eric Roberts, who's just gotten out of his car, that he thinks his wife suspects something. They're out in front of the house, and Bennet goes on that Sandra went through his bag and found a gun and a sedation kit. Eric Roberts mildly tells him that that was not the brightest move. Of course, mild coming from Eric Roberts is still enough to make me hide under the bed, so I don't blame Bennet for pulling the "the baby's been keeping me up at night" excuse. He goes on that he's afraid Sandra thinks he's a serial killer, and Eric Roberts tells him that that would be better than her knowing the truth. I'm starting to think "morally grey" might be a somewhat charitable evaluation of the things Bennet is asked to do in this job. Bennet says he doesn't know what to do, and Eric Roberts answers that he's got a "new sensation" for him. It's part of the guest recapper's job to call this on the regular's behalf, so: shout-out! Eric Roberts asks what Bennet would do if he said yes. Bennet: "I'd do what I've always done: what I'm told." I'm not necessarily questioning his loyalty, but it might carry more weight if "always" didn't mean "for a year" in this case. Eric Roberts says there's nothing to worry about, because they discovered a mute boy in Haiti who can make her forget. He adds, "When we asked him to describe his ability, he drew a picture of himself, pulling memories like little grubworms out of someone's head. I wanted to put it on the front of my fridge." It's the insane creepiness that makes it art. Eric Roberts tells Bennet to be sure to thank him when he's done for saving Sandra's life. Bennet wonders if Hallmark has the perfect card for this particular occasion.