Episode Report Card Niki: A+ | 2 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT Chance Of A Lifetime
By Niki | Season 3 | Episode 19 | Aired on 04.14.2002
When we return from commercials, we join Karen and Henry in a physical-therapy center. Karen, decked out in sweats, is limping along a contraption and clinging to its handrails. She winces and shudders with each step, while Henry eggs her on with shots like, "Oh, come on! That doesn't hurt!" Karen rolls her eyes and mocks that he's mean. He retorts that she loves every minute of it. Karen bites her tongue, because she does, in fact, love every minute of it. Henry asks how work is going, and Karen sighs, "I don't think I have it in me anymore to take on the world's complaints." Henry says he thought she "loved serving the public's interests." She says that, somewhere in the midst of it, she forgot her own interests. Henry tells her that it's common for people in her "situation" to reevaluate their lives. "So, what? You think I should become a dancer?" Karen quips. Huh. Looks like she left the ass-pole back in traction. Henry gives her a "woman, please" look and asks her to swing around, since she's reached the end of the apparatus. He says he has something for her, and heads off to get it. Before he goes, though, he teases, "Now, don't you run off on me." He wiggles his fingers like they're little running legs. Karen chuckles weakly at the lame joke.
Henry returns with an exuberant, "It's Mr. Cane!" Which, actually, was the name of one of my Phys. Ed. teachers. He was a man who fancied jumping jacks and clingy, cotton-jersey pants, but wasn't so fond of support. So, you know, ew. Luckily, the Mr. Cane to which Henry's referring is the non-traumatizing metal-and-rubber variety. He waves the cane, trying to tantalize her with it. Karen's sarcastically enthusiastic, saying, "Great. Maybe I should get some orthopedic shoes to go with this!" Henry warns, "Careful, 'cause I've got a thing for orthopedic shoes." Yeah, I'll bet. Henry suggests that she take the cane for a spin. "And try not to fall on your face?" he adds. Does that mean Karen did fall on her face? And why in the hell didn't we get to see it? Karen shoots him a look of mock hatred, and he says, "You think I'm mean, but I'm actually very warm and fuzzy." Karen looks dubious. Henry rhymes off the evidence: he calls his mother once a week, he cries at sappy movies, and he even coaches a Little League team. Karen facetiously says she's totally misjudged him, then. He laughs and says, "At least you've acknowledged it." Karen falters a bit on the apparatus, and Henry quickly steadies her. She focuses on turning around with the cane, while Henry hovers with his arms ready to catch her. "So, you coach Little League, and you don't have a kid of your own, huh?" she gasps. Henry grows serious for a second, and suggests that she come and watch a game sometime. Hesitantly, Karen says maybe she will. She takes a couple more baby steps, and stops just in front of Henry. He looks at her closely and says, "See? You've made it." Oh, the depths of meaning! His eyes travel over her face, studying it intently. She gets where he's heading, and her eyes become guarded. "Yeah," she says, sounding uncertain. Looks like the ass-pole's thrown off the bandages.
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