Episode Report Card Sobell: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Niedermeyer -- dead!
By Sobell | Season 2 | Episode 17 | Aired on 02.18.2007
Some miles away in Minneapolis, C-Note is at the local free clinic, getting the eye-opening lesson that the kinds of health-care options poor people have are much different than the kinds of health-care options everyone else enjoys. C-Note barges into a grizzled doctor's office, bullies the guy into seeing him, tosses down all the money he's got ($400), then begs, "Please look at my daughter." We learn that Dede's got PKD. C-Note says, "Normally we have it under control, but I don't like what I'm seeing right now. She says her stomach hurts, and she's always hot." The doctor asks about Dede's appetite, and C-Note fearfully tells him, "It's gone. She's always tired -- ain't that right, baby?" The doctor finally grunts for C-Note to put Dede on the examination table.
Back in Chicago, Michael's called Linc to find out what's going on. Everyone's about to wig out over Pope taking too long inside when the ex-warden reappears at the entrance. As Pope walks along the sidewalk, a sleek black sedan pulls up. Cut to Michael asking, "What's happening?"
What's happening is that the beaming Agent Kim has just intercepted Pope's path with a cheery "Hello, Henry!" Everyone not named Kim goggles in dismay as we go to the commercials.
Commercials. Oh, TurboTax, you are making me feel guilty over scheduling my appointment with my accountant in mid-March. Just for that... I have an appointment with an accountant instead of with you. So there!
When we come back, Pope is making a heroic effort to look Kim in the eye without stooping. Kim says, "I didn't know you were a cigar man?" Pope chuckles mirthlessly and says, "Who are you?" Kim says, "A-a friend. A colleague, in fact. We're both in law enforcement." Pope points out that he's not anymore. Kim gives a patronizing little smile as he says, "That's right. You're... retired."
Up on the roof, Linc turns to Kellerman and asks, "You know that guy?" Kellerman can't keep the loathing out of his voice as he replies, "Yeah." The guys head off.
As Michael and Dr. Sara watch from their (stolen) car -- hey, why aren't there APBs out for that thing? Why didn't either Michael or Dr. Sara ask to take Pope's car? Why do I even bother to ask these questions? ANYWAY, as Michael and Dr. Sara watch from their car, Kim continues to make small talk with the unreceptive Pope. Then he gets all serious with, "You don't mind if I ask you to empty your pockets?" Pope replies, "As a matter of fact, I do." Kim continues nattering on about the real reason Pope showed up at the club, and Pope eyes the beefy blond enforcer guy who just stepped out of the car. As Pope tries to walk down the sidewalk, Kim blocks his path, then discreetly flashes his firearm. As Kim continues trying to put pressure on Pope, Pope looks around as if biting his tongue to keep from saying, Your strong-arm tactics don't work on me. Don't you even talk to your other conspiracy goons? And Michael decides that now is a fine time to use his vehicle to break up the conversation between Kim and Pope. Kim clings to the hood for a moment, then rolls to the ground. And then -- because Michael lacks a killer instinct, or because the writers really like Kim that much -- he does not roll over Kim's prone body and finish the job. Instead, he collects Pope and gets ready to pull up.