Episode Report Card Potes: A | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Don't Ask, Don't Tell
By Potes | Season 1 | Episode 18 | Aired on 03.21.2007
As Betty and Marc head down the stairs, they run into Justin. Marc asks Betty what her son is doing there. Hilda says that Justin was supposed to be having dinner with his father, but that she's had a little chat with him, and he's on board. Justin queens that Santos tried to take him out for fast food, and notes that chicken nuggets are fifteen points, and it's almost bathing suit season. Ah, I see where this is going. Jean says that it must be tough being a single mom, and asks how long ago Hilda and "her husband" split. Hilda says that they never married, and gives the old "prom night, condom breaks" story. Jean says that's a lot of information. Justin shows the shirt he silkscreened in class today -- it's a "Free Claire" shirt. Hey, I want one of those! Jean asks if Claire is a celebrity, and Justin goes into the whole story, saying that hers was a crime of passion, and that he will not rest until she's free. In fact, he's starting a petition the next day at school. Jean notes with some concern that he's starting a petition to free a murderer, and Betty says that the cause gives Justin a place to focus his anxiety, since he's still pretty upset about the Dreamgirls snub. Heh. Justin says, "Babel? What's Babel?" and Marc says that he knows, and that Dreamgirls was a cinematic achievement. Jean gives him a glare and he says, "And, uh, phew, how about the boobs on that Beyoncé, huh?" There are then hijinx involving the cat running outside, and Ignacio chasing him, and the alarm going off, and Betty and Justin explaining to Jean that he's under house arrest because he's an illegal immigrant. Jean quietly asks Marc if he's sure he wants to get involved with this family. You're the homophobe with the show cat, lady. And then, in the middle of it all, Daniel arrives. Justin tells Jean that Daniel is Betty's ex-boyfriend, and everyone looks at Justin like he's crazy. He says, "What? I can't play too?" If Justin were about ten years older, this dinner would have a much happier ending.
Meanwhile, Wilhelmina slinks into Claire's hospital room, having passed herself off as Claire's "very tan sister." Tanned from within by the sunshine of evil, as we will soon see. Wili pushes the button on Claire's adjustable bed. She notes the handcuffs. Claire says that she committed a crime, and Wili says that the biggest crime is not letting a woman have her makeup. She paints Claire's lips with gloss and says that things aren't going well with Daniel and Alexis, and that she's afraid they're going to destroy the magazine and each other. Wili thinks, it will come as no surprise to you, that it would be helpful to have someone supervise and mediate. Claire guesses that Wili thinks that person should be herself. Wili says that she practically ran the magazine while Daniel was in charge, but has no authority in her current position. She notes that Claire could give her power of attorney, or "something like that." That way, she says, she can protect them. After all, she's a mother, too. Claire says, "You're telling me." Claire thinks Wilhelmina is a motherchucker! Claire tells Wili to cut the act, because she's not Bradford or some other suit who will be taken in by Wili's collagen smile and plastic ass. Oooh, burn. Wili then does something that is SO EVIL. She wants to offer Claire something that might change her mind, and pulls a bottle of vodka out of her purse. Not a flask, either, but a whole big bottle. I guess it's a good thing the large tote is still in. She says she knows that Claire is drying out, but that one little sip can't hurt. She pours some in one of the plastic hospital glasses. Claire says, "You actually think I would sell out my children for a lousy drink?" Well...I mean, maybe. Wili says probably not after one, but after four or five, she's been known to do a lot worse. Well that's no way to get her on your side! Try some diplomacy, for heaven's sake. Claire tells Wili to listen, and listen hard. She knows who Wilhelmina is, and she will never get her hands on the company. She says that "that slut Fey Sommers" may have gotten to be editor-in-chief by going after her husband, but from now on, the only person running Mode will be a Meade. She looks like she means it, too. As a final, parting evil gesture, Wili puts a straw in the vodka cup and puts it on the table just out of Claire's reach. She leaves and Claire lunges for it, to no avail. After that scene, even I could use a drink.