Episode Report Card Couch Baron: A | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT The Short Goodbye
By Couch Baron | Season 4 | Episode 3 | Aired on 08.08.2010
Don turns up at the office and realizes that the front door is open; inside, he finds Pryce, who wonders why he's not in Acapulco. Don tersely explains that he didn't feel like it, and Pryce replies by saying he had too much to do to go to England, and his family will be back soon enough. Don asks if he can help himself to a drink, but Pryce does him one better, breaking out a bottle he says is "rather special" that his father sent him for his birthday. Don asks what it is, getting this response: "Who knows. He's one of those alcoholics who thinks that he's collecting." Heh. They drink, establishing that Pryce Senior was definitely drunk when he made this recommendation, and Don starts to leave Pryce's office, but Pryce tells him that he made a discovery while going over the company's records: "Although things are precarious financially, it's been a magnificent year." I guess that means he'll be hiring a new assistant. Don raises a glass and leaves...
...but I don't know why he even bothered, as when we return, they've both obviously been drinking quite a bit. Pryce is lying on the couch in his office when Don calls to him (Pryce's answering "WHAT?" is hilarious); when Pryce comes out to the break area, Don suggests they go see a movie, and rattles off some choices; when he gets to Send Me No Flowers, Pryce is like, "No," and that's a little Catskills for this show but it doesn't mean I didn't laugh. Sometime after, they've got their coats on and Don is filling up a flask, but they still haven't settled on a flick. Pryce suggests The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg, and Don appreciatively notes it's got Catherine DeNeuve in it...
...but instead, we cut to them drinking and watching Gamera. Ha! Pryce loudly opines that the film is very good, and then Don drunkenly tells him there's something going on in the theater - hand jobs. Pryce is appropriately intrigued, and asks how many of the theatergoers Don thinks are so engaged; then, when some woman asks him to keep it down, he babbles some gibberish in what he thinks is a Japanese accent, cracking Don up. Pleased by the affirmation, he keeps it up...
...and then they're at dinner, where Pryce admits to Don he loves being in New York, even alone. He then tells Don he reminds him of a guy he knew in school. "We followed him around in a pack, and he didn't notice we were there." Pryce may be immune to Joan's charms, but I'm starting to think Don could have extra days off whenever he feels like it. Pryce then mentions that "Rebecca," his wife, convinced him the rest of the office was on holiday together without him, and Don supposes they haven't been all that welcoming. Pryce says that Pete is friendly, "although I believe unintentionally." HA! It's hilarious to think that Pete's so socially clumsy that even his triumphs occur by accident. Pryce admits, however, that his wife is "quite severe with people, including me," and adds that they had a series of arguments over where to spend the holidays, and the upshot was a recent and "rather solemn" phone call in which she informed him she was not returning, and "then she put my son on the phone." Ouch. Don agrees, and Pryce asks him how he knew when his own marriage was over. Don replies honestly that it wasn't his decision, and, referring to the conversation that got Roger to leave Mona, adds that he's learned the hard way not to give advice in these situations. Pryce laughs uncomfortably and says that Don's supposed to tell him to get on a plane, but Don, proving that Dr. Miller had more interest to him than as a dinner date, asks if that's what he wants, or if it's just what people expect of him. Pryce says he simply wants his beef, and just like that, the food appears. I'll have to remember that one. Don then mentions that he's got an appointment with some female companionship that night, and he could see if she has a friend, if Pryce is interested. Pryce initially declines, but when Don is basically like, "C'mon," he opts for what he wants rather than what's expected of him, to Don's delight. Don then smiles that he's not hungry, looking forward as he is to getting slapped around, and Pryce asks how that can be, as he picks up his steak and compliments the "beautiful piece of American meat." He then stands up, slaps the steak onto his crotch, and yells, "Look at me! I got a big Texas belt buckle! Yee-haw!" It's too bad Pryce didn't get this hammered at the Christmas party, because I have a feeling this is one performance Lee Garner Jr. would really appreciate.