Episode Report Card Deborah: A | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Desolation
By Deborah | Season 1 | Episode 23 | Aired on 05.20.2004
Shout-outs to Tabbyclaw and Ebongreen. Also, y'all should know that since Professor Frink and I were in Manhattan when this aired, we were able to watch it in our hotel room with Sars, which made it extra-good. ["Aw, that's what I was saying about y'all!" -- Sars] It's the first time I've ever watched an episode of any show I recapped with my editor present. So I will be including some of Sars's real-time remarks in the text, and her editorial comments will be inserted in square brackets as always. And you will laugh at all of them, if you know what's good for you.
It's a dark and stormy night. No, really. There's a fire in the hearth and music playing in the Girardi living room. Helen's in her pyjamas and robe, sitting on the couch reading or perhaps doing a crossword, when someone comes to the door. She gets up to answer it, griping about the fact that no one else could be bothered. I like the way the lightning makes it possible to glimpse through the curtained window the distinctive hat of one of the people standing there. She opens it to find two state trooper types standing there; though they ask for her, she immediately assumes they're looking for Will. She tells them she thinks he's in the shower. But they tell her they have bad news: her son's been in an accident. I'm sure now that this must be a dream, but I can't help thinking for a split second: Luke? Or Kevin…again? They confirm it was Kevin. She insists it can't be; Kevin called from the party he's at. One trooper explains there was an accident as Kevin was leaving the party, and they've come to take her to the hospital: "I'm afraid his condition is serious." Helen asks how serious. He simply replies, "Let us take you to the hospital, Mrs. Girardi." Helen hesitates, saying, "I remember this, but not this house…what house is this?" She looks around, and sees Kevin walking down the stairs, shirtless, with wet hair and a towel around his neck. The trooper tells her that her son's condition is critical. Helen points to Kevin and says, "No. There he is. Look!" Stopped on the stairs, Kevin asks, "Who are those clowns?" Helen turns back to the doorway to see two actual clowns standing there. Yikes. Maybe television shows should be required to provide warnings for coulrophobics, like the ones they have to broadcast about violent and sexual content. Clowns? Always scary-ass. I can't believe they are primarily called upon to entertain children. She starts guffawing as the clowns sort of glide into the house somewhat. She laughs and calls to an unseen Will that he has to come see this. We see the clowns standing there in the doorway with sad expressions as we cut to Helen tossing and turning in bed, muttering Will's name.