Episode Report Card Niki: B | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Won't Someone Please Help George Bailey Tonight? (2)
By Niki | Season 2 | Episode 20 | Aired on 04.17.2001
Over at Rick's office, the associates are heading for lunch. Cho asks Rick whether he wants "the same tuna sandwich he's had all year." Which is a really unfortunate way of phrasing the question. "No, just get me a tuna sandwich," he mutters. Because he's distracted, see? The associates leave and Rick settles at his desk. He sighs. And sighs again. And rubs his mouth, still sighing.
Soliloquy Rick offers us a window on his thoughts: "After my dad died, we had to sell the house, move into an apartment. I worked all through college and spent years afterwards paying off student loans. I can't think of a time when money hasn't been this constant...dread." He sighs. Again.
Karen walks into his office, where Rick's arranged himself in The Thinker's pose. He spots her and coldly says, "Karen. Come in, come in. Sit down." He offers to get her something -- something she "can use against [him]." He snarks out phony offers of computers, just so he can remind her that "they" already took all of them. Karen looks more and more wounded. She steps forward, beseeching, and says she just came from the D.A.'s office. Rick grumbles something. Karen blurts, "You're not going to be indicted." He gives her an appraising stare for a second before saying, a little uncertainly, "I'm not." She assures him it's true. He sighs as he absorbs the news, feeling a thousand pounds of pressure floating off his shoulders. She watches him with something like tenderness. He sighs and absorbs and revels in the relief for several moments, and actually seems to forget she's there. When he remembers, he stares at her and announces, his voice devoid of emotion, "I still hate you for what you did to me." What, her job? Karen's eyes grow sad, and her voice is teary as she says, "Well, I'm, uh, sorry you feel that way." She lowers her eyes, turns, and walks out. Good for her. My ex used to pull crap like Rick just did, and I'll tell you, I could kick Rick in his self-righteous, self-pitying teeth right now. Issues? Who, me?
Cut to Manning Manor, where Grace is watching the evening news. The announcer reads off the story about Atlantor indictments, and Grace calls Lily into the living room to hear it. How does Lily not know by now that Rick didn't get named? Like she wouldn't be the first person he called after Karen left. ["Unless this is more proof that he's shutting her out." -- Wing Chun] Lily pauses outside the living room, not wanting to get any closer to the TV than she has to. She hears keys in the front door and runs to meet Rick, trying to pull him toward the news. He tells her he's not on the list. Her face melts with relief. And again I ask, why the hell didn't he tell her sooner? ["Well, see above." -- Wing Chun] She throws her arms around him, murmuring that she knew everything was going to be okay. Pulling back, she asks, "That's it? It's over?" He nods. She says they have to celebrate. "Why don't we ever have champagne in this house?" she asks. Rick says they'll have to wait until the wedding. His drinking problem gives him a poke in the ribs, but he doesn't notice. "We're getting married!" Lily exclaims and adds, "What a great idea that is!" They hug again.