Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A | 2 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT Working At The Car Wash
By Cindy McLennan | Season 1 | Episode 5 | Aired on 10.08.2009
Mystic Falls High School: Caroline is planning a sexy carwash as a fundraiser. She's telling the other girls she wants it to be "in your face sexy." Bonnie and Elena are looking on and rolling their eyes at her, when Stefan appears. Bonnie beats a hasty retreat to give the broken hearted puppies some room to cry at one another. Stefan apologizes for not calling, saying that he was dealing with Damon. Elena has questions, of course, so Stefan asks if they can talk at The Grill - around 4 PM. You know, because the town hangout is so much more private than the high school lockers. Caroline approaches and asks Stefan where Damon is. Stefan tells her, "He's gone, Caroline. [...] He's not coming back. I'm sorry." Elena suppresses a smile at this, and once he's gone, she reminds Caroline that it's a good thing Damon is gone. Caroline lies that she knows that.
The Grill: Matt's playing pool. When Elena asks, he says he hasn't seen Stefan, but he invites her to kill some time by playing pool with him. My word he's adorable. Welcome back and don't ever go away ever again, ever. You hear?
Mossy Manse: Zach took his stupid pills today, so he decides to go down cellar and check on Damon. The first words out of his mouth are that he's been spiking his own coffee with Vervain for 16 years, so his blood will do Damon no good. When Damon tries to lay the family guilt down on him, Zach won't play, and snipes that he's avoided having a living, breathing family, because of Damon. Damon complains that Zach is like his grandfather, who also didn't care for Damon's visits. Zach thinks that when a guest actually owns the house, and rubs that in, as well as they fact that he's allowing the host to live, it feels less visit-y. Zach just came to say goodbye. As he turns his back on the dungeon door, Damon reaches through the bars on the window, chokes Zach and demands that he unlock the door. Stefan shows up and saves the day -- by, I think, crunching some of the bones in Damon's hand. I didn't rewind the scene, because I didn't want to lose my lunch. Stefan helps Zach to his feet then shouts a warning at his brother. "Keep it up, Damon. The more energy you expend, the faster you'll go." As that's my philosophy, I'm going to take a little nap, now.
The Grill: Elena tattles to Matt that Vicki spent the night with Germ. They agree it's weird that their siblings are hooking up. When Matt tries to find out what's going on with Elena, she pointedly announces she is not talking boy problems with him. Matt makes light of this by pointing out they were best friends for years. Elena reconsiders and asks Matt what he thinks of Stefan. She whines about how secretive he's been, and wonders what they actually know about him. Matt continues to be perfect, saying that Stefan is good at football, a bit of a loner, and may be a nice guy. "I think you should talk to him." Stefan walks in at that moment and overhears. "Talk to who?" When Elena starts in on Stefan, who is an hour late, Matt leaves them to bicker in peace. Before anyone can say anything of import, and older man comes up to Stefan and says, "I know you. My God. [...] How can it be?" Stefan tries to play it cool and suggests the old guy has the wrong person. The old guy won't drop the subject. "You haven't aged a day." Stefan says, "Excuse me," and drags Elena away to talk. He asks if he can walk her home. She wants her private conversation in the middle of everything, including intrusive strangers, or she doesn't want it at all. She leaves Stefan hanging as we go to commercial.