Episode Report Card Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Strangers And Brothers
By Niki | Season 1 | Episode 18 | Aired on 03.12.2000
Cut to Lily trying to fight her way through the crowd -- the house is like a geriatric nightclub. As she jostles her way toward the living room, several people stop to tell her something about Phil, and it's usually food-related. Lily responds as if on auto-pilot, spewing polite platitudes like a pro as her eyes scan the room for her mother. Finally she spots Barbara sitting alone in the crowd. Judy pops out of nowhere, and the sisters flank their mother on the love seat. Barbara looks decidedly uncomfortable.
We see them next in the kitchen, where they've gone to talk privately about funeral arrangements. Lily tells her mother that Phil's now at the funeral home, and Barbara responds by saying that she's "one of those women now, the kind who sit with an empty chair." Somewhat taken aback, Lily and Judy mention that there are still decisions to be made and people to call. Judy says that she has to go see Aaron to prepare him for everything that's about to happen. "What's to prepare?" Barbara asks. "[Phil] was Aaron's father, too," Judy points out with just a hint of contempt. Clearly some Brooks family issues are surfacing, here. Lily jumps in and changes the subject to the funeral, suggesting they have people speak. When she mentions the Tannenbaums, her mother responds disgustedly. Lily then suggests music, an idea her mother scorns, saying that for once in her life, she wants things to be dignified. When Lily says that music is dignified, her mother gets huffy and sweeps out of the room, telling them to do whatever they want. Lily and Judy are stunned, they've never seen their mother behave like such a royal pain-in-the-ass. Judy gets up to leave, and Lily asks if she wants someone to go with her to see Aaron, giving the impression that the visit may not be an easy one. Judy declines, and talk turns to finding a rabbi for the funeral. Lily figures Judy can set it up, seeing as she dated one a while ago, but Judy points out that was just for sex. Bwahaha. I'm sure shocked laughter rings out somewhere in America. Rick steps up behind Judy, carrying two enormous trays of food, and Lily lights up when she sees him. Rick kisses Judy on the forehead and says he's sorry about Phil, and then he slides onto the bench next to Lily. She rests her head on his big, strong shoulder. They mention their rabbi dilemma, and he says he knows one. Surprised, Judy asks if he's "even a little bit Jewish." Nah, he knows a guy in his building who happens to be a rabbi. Grace and Zoe come flying into the kitchen at this point, and Rick deftly slips off the bench and out of the way as they descend on Lily, complaining how the geriatrics are invading the upstairs like some kind of disease. Seems someone had the nerve to use their toilet without asking. Zoe then asks Lily if it's okay that she hasn't cried yet, and Lily assures her that there a lot of ways to be sad.