Episode Report Card Couch Baron: A | 479 USERS: A- YOU GRADE IT Bertram is Evil. Evil!
By Couch Baron | Season 3 | Episode 7 | Aired on 2009.09.27
Yes, Henry, once you've known her a bit you'll learn that just because she didn't laugh doesn't mean she doesn't get the reference. Actually, her pause before that declaration could be interpreted as her covering the fact that she actually didn't get it, but I find that difficult to believe, married as she is to a prolific ad man. I mean, I know Don doesn't share a lot about his work, but that ad wasn't exactly obscure, so I think the pause was just her dealing with the disappointment of Francis leaving so soon. Anyway, they head out to find a waitress and some guy using a "contraption" to look indirectly at the eclipse, whereupon Betty stares straight up into the sky until Francis covers her eyes. Honey, I know you're enjoying his attentions, but blinding yourself to get them seems a little extreme. After Betty takes a moment to recover, they start walking, and she somewhat reproachfully observes that he must have known he wouldn't have time to go to the reservoir. Well, he might have if he hadn't ordered that apple pie. She's probably more upset about missing the chance to go somewhere more secluded with him than she is about her civic mission, but regardless, he changes the subject as they stop in front of a furniture store and he points out a horribly ugly chaise longue, the very same that will end up in Betty's living room, and tells her, referring to her bout with dizziness, that it's what she needs. Ugh, it's hideous -- all busy light pink fabric and overly-ornately carved wood -- and it most certainly does not belong in their new living room, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Anyway, Francis tells her it's a "fainting couch" from the Victorian era, for women to use when they get overwhelmed, and adds that he knows that because he used to move furniture. I'm not sure if they're playing up this blue-collar-upbringing angle of his personality because the combination of it with erudite success is somewhat reminiscent of her father, or of Don, or both, but anyway, Francis offers to walk Betty to her car, but she pointedly tells him Ossining is "still a small town," so he leaves her with the promise of a rain check for the hike and to call her as soon as he knows anything. Again, keeping her hopes up while being sure he'll get maximum gratitude should he succeed. He leaves her, and she turns to regard the ugly couch again. Given my moniker, I am truly appalled that she ends up buying that thing.