Episode Report Card Niki: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Taking Sides
By Niki | Season 3 | Episode 11 | Aired on 01.03.2002
"So, you're a happening guy," Rick says sarcastically. "That's me," Sam smiles. Rick says he appreciates Sam handling the lobby, but he doesn't want to have to lie anymore on Sam's behalf. Sam says he understands. Rick tells him that Judy called him last night, and Sam rubs his eyes, knowing he's busted.
Lily tries to convince Judy that there are "so many other men out there who don't bring this kind of complication." "No there aren't." "Judy." "Lily." "Judy." "You spent a total of, what, six minutes single and went out with exactly one man? Is that correct?" Chastised, Lily lowers her eyes and says she guesses so. Swallowing tears, Judy says that she's always been led by passion, and she's "always trusted that," but now she doesn't know if she can "live one more day like that," and that "makes [her] really sad."
Woodenly, Sam apologizes and promises never again to put Rick in the position of having to lie. "Gee, thanks," Rick says. Sam slams up from his desk and launches into a huge victim spiel, saying that he's clearly confused, and he's been confused for a long time, and he's been causing pain to Judy and Rick and Lily and Janine and his kid, and probably a whole pile of other people he doesn't even know about. And here's his kicker: "I'm guessing -- and this is just a guess here -- that there are men all across this country doing what I'm doing who aren't getting attacked for it on a daily basis!" Oh, boo hoo, dirtbag. He shoots Rick a shame-on-you look before storming away. Rick doesn't look like Sam's speech changed his mind very much.
Soliloquy Beach. Janine pretends to complain about life with Sam, saying, among other things, that he's "cut off and narcissistic." No arguments here. "No relationship is perfect," Karen points out. "Except for Karen and Rick!" Janine laughs. Karen and Rick have no choice but to smother one another with their lips.
Cut to Karen and Jessie in Karen's van. "Are you sure you don't want something to eat? How about some ice cream?" Karen asks. Jessie says they have "ice cream at home," and then catches herself: "I mean, Lily's." Why doesn't anyone refer to it as Rick's place? "You like it over there," Karen states. Jessie says it's okay, and Karen assures her that she doesn't have to pretend not to for her sake. Jessie insists that she's not pretending.
Soliloquy Beach. Rick and Sam are finally going to finish the story they started seven eons ago. Apparently, Karen burst into tears when Sam reached her way out there in the water. That's all we learn before a very young Jessie busts onto the scene in her nightie. Karen, Rick, and Jessie form a nice cuddly family unit, and Karen tells us, "This is why I burst into tears."