Episode Report Card Niki: B | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Won't Someone Please Help George Bailey Tonight? (2)
By Niki | Season 2 | Episode 20 | Aired on 04.17.2001
Judy's arriving at Manning Manor, calling out a cheerful hello as she enters the kitchen. She finds Lily at the table with a newspaper. Judy pulls off her jacket, saying, "I called the office and they said you were sick. Need anything?" How sweet is that? In a shaky voice, Lily says she's okay. Judy says, "You don't look so okay." Lily sarcastically thanks her. Judy makes herself a cup of tea, and asks what's going on. Lily literally turns up her nose and says, "I can't talk to you about it, Judy." Judy says that Lily talks to her about everything. "Rick," Lily says brusquely, snapping the paper. "Which is why you can't talk to me about it," Judy says, taking a seat at the table. Lily stares into her mug and says, "Oh, just say 'I told you so,'" and then buries her head in her hands. "Rick talks," Judy says, coaxing. Lily says, "Not really. Not enough." Judy smiles, "I told you so." Lily rolls her eyes and smiles grudgingly. Judy says that some guys just don't like to talk about their feelings. Lily insists that Rick does talk about his feelings; "he just doesn't let anyone inside his feelings." Judy asks, "Meaning you?" Lily turns her face away and looks at the table. Judy says, "Think about all that's happened to him." She tries to put it into perspective for Lily, how fast Rick's life came apart. Lily says she knows. Judy asks, "Is it possible this is also a good thing?" Lily asks how she can say that, and I'm expecting Judy to say that at least Lily figured these things out before she and Rick got married. She doesn't, though. Judy tells her that if they "can survive this, [they] might even be able to survive marriage." Lily fiddles with her cup, smiling a little, and says, "You sound like you're saying I should just hang in there with him." Just like that Tammy Wynette song. "Hmm," Judy says, feigning surprise, "I guess I am." Lily smiles, happy to oblige.
Cut to Karen hugging herself and pacing around outside some courthouse. "Low fat, extra shot...extra shot half caf bladda bloo..." Dumanjiak bellows, sidling up behind her with a coffee. She accepts it, thanking him, and they stroll over to a bench. He teases that if she really wanted to meet with him, they could have just met at a parking garage. Karen's not in the mood for jokes, though, as she reminds him that he takes his job just as seriously as she does hers. Her voice is pleading, as she tries to convince him that it's in their best interests not to see each other. It's screamingly obvious how badly she wants to tear open his trench coat, though. It's like she's trying to convince herself that they should just stop. When she finishes, she asks, "I'm right, aren't I?" There's no trace of a joke or smile as he agrees. She gives him a bumbling "another time, another place" spiel, and he interrupts to ask if he may say something. "Yes," she sighs, relieved. He settles onto the bench, and touches her arm to join him. He says, "You are the most beautiful, smartest, most intense, sexiest women I have ever encountered in my life." Karen's having trouble catching her breath. And speaking, for that matter. Dumanjiak kisses her. He pops off the bench and takes a few steps away, then spins on his heel and swoops down for a faceplant. He grabs her by the shoulders, pulling her to her feet, and they grope and slurp and heat up their legal briefs. Karen is positively weak when he finally pulls away and strides off...