Episode Report Card Kim: B | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Your Money Or Your Wife
By Kim | Season 4 | Episode 3 | Aired on 10.23.2001
Just outside the room, Sean corners his father and whispers that it's bad enough that Mr. Blumberg used to ask Sean's friends' parents for money, but these are his in-laws. Mr. Blumberg happily explains that he's offering the Rotundis an opportunity. Sean says, "To lose money." Mr. Blumberg's face falls. Sean explains that Mr. Rotundi doesn't want to invest, but he's too classy to say so, and orders his father not to do this. Mr. Blumberg asks whether Sean thinks he's a loser. Sean raises his voice, attracting the attention of those at the table, as he says, "Dad, when was the last time one of your ideas ever worked? Please don't do this! You're embarrassing everyone --" Sean cuts himself off as he realizes that he was yelling. Meghan looks on sadly. Sean excuses himself and walks out. Meghan follows. Gee, do you think Sean is embarrassed of his father because he's ashamed of himself and his own failures?
Sean walks into Noel's room and brings up the pen-cap thing. Noel apologizes and says that he doesn't think the investment is for him. Sean says that's okay, even though he thinks flavored pen caps are going to be really huge, but that's not why he came to Noel. Smiling, Noel says he knew something was up because there was "an air of desperation" in Sean's pitch. Sean confesses that he's in financial trouble, and he thought the pen-cap thing would get him out of the hole, but that he shouldn't have tried to take advantage of a friend. Sean gets up to leave. Noel says that just because he's not interested in investing doesn't mean that he's not interesting in helping, and grabs his checkbook. Sean hesitates, and then says that he can't just take Noel's money. Noel smiles and says he's not just giving it to Sean; it's a loan. Sean nervously says that he needs a lot of money. Noel says that's all right, because it's blood money, and he wants no part of it. Noel hands Sean a check. Sean looks down at it and then grabs Noel in a hug. After a moment, Noel makes to let go, but Sean isn't releasing him. Aw, Sean. He's a lovable lug, isn't he?
Elena (still wearing the sweatshirt) helps Ben and Trevor in the Lab of Darkness. Ben thanks her for helping, and Elena says that they can't let one lab turn them off to "the whole thing," plus she wants to get her mind off Tracy. Trevor is completely uninterested in the lab work, and he wonders why anyone would want to get married at the age of twenty anyway. ["Shut up, Trevor, you Robert Sean Leonard-looking mofo." -- Wing Chun] Elena shoots back that she loved Tracy. Ben says something about the experiment to change the subject. Trevor tells Elena that there will be others, because Elena's so...at a loss for words, all Trevor can say is, "Damn!" Ben laughingly tells Trevor to take it easy, and then realizes that they've successfully completed the experiment. Trevor thinks this is cause for celebration, and pulls a glass mug out of his backpack, because it's Mug Night at some bar. Elena asks what he's talking about, and Trevor says that if you bring your own mug, you get free refills. Ben says that he's got to go find Felicity. Trevor tells Elena that she needs Mug Night. Elena doesn't have a mug. Trevor grabs a beaker or something and tells Elena that she can use it. Elena agrees to go for one drink, and they take off together. Still not liking Trevor.
Mr. Blumberg and Don are adding up some checks in their living room when Sean walks in. Sean starts to talk about brunch, and Don comments that he can't wait to hear this. Sean asks Don to leave them alone for a moment. Don goes to his room. Mr. Blumberg says that he gets it; he embarrassed Sean. Sean protests that it's not that, and it wasn't about his father. Sean wanted the Rotundis to accept him, and to think that he is successful. Mr. Blumberg says that Sean is already successful. Sean says, "Yeah. I'm twenty-seven years old, Dad. I've never been to college. I don't have a job, and all my friends are younger than me. Now, I've got a wife to support, okay? I'm a loser." Wow, it looks like the writers have been reading our forums, because those are all complaints that people have had about Sean in the past. Mr. Blumberg thinks that Sean is wrong, because he has that great apartment, and he always comes up with great ideas. Mr. Blumberg rushes over and pulls some cereal out of the cupboard. Sean asks if they are Lact-Os, and Mr. Blumberg says that they have them for breakfast every week. I wish he had pulled out some Smoothaise instead. That was my favorite Sean idea. Mr. Blumberg says that he's proud of Sean. Sean looks surprised. Mr. Blumberg tries to cover his emotions by asking what's new. Sean says dispiritedly that he's got some pen caps. Mr. Blumberg asks, "What, they're flavored?" Sean brightens and says yes, and Mr. Blumberg says that he had the same idea, because (they both chorus), "people are always chewing on the ends." Mr. Blumberg is sure that they're going to be huge. Sean says, very seriously, "It's my idea, okay?"