Episode Report Card Deborah: A | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Desolation
By Deborah | Season 1 | Episode 23 | Aired on 05.20.2004
The standoff at the police station continues. Walter's mother arrives; it's HITG! Debra Mooney. Sars mentions that it's Edna from Everwood, which I wouldn't have known since I don't watch it. But I recognize her from many appearances on other shows. Toni tells Will she's Ruth Washington. Dude: the guy's name is Walter Washington? No wonder he's on edge. Mrs. Washington says, "He's a good boy. It's that Denise who's trouble." Will says they have to make sure Walter doesn't fire the gun or he'll end up in prison for the rest of his life: "Not to mention losing a woman and her baby." Mrs. Washington: "Baby?" She insists nobody believes what Denise says. Will tell Ruth he's not sure she's helping as much as she might be. Walter catches sight of her and calls out, "Mama?" He's moved a little farther away from his wife at that point, and at least a couple of cops must have had a clear shot at him, but they don't fire. He yells, "Mama, I need you!" She says she's here, and asks him to put the gun down before someone shoots him. Shouldn't she have been put in a bulletproof vest by now? Walter: "Tell them how it is, Mama! How she is! They don't understand!" Denise keeps struggling to get out of his grasp. She's rather stupid. All her struggling only makes it harder for a cop to pick him off without accidentally shooting her. Denise, who's not the greatest actor they've ever had on the show, hollers, "Look, I am carrying his baby!" Ruth: "Well, you might be carrying somebody's. Put it down, Walter, I am not gonna come visit you in no prison." Walter: "But you gotta make 'em listen, Mama!"
He tries to tighten his grasp on Denise, who continues squirming and struggling. He accidentally fires the gun, which he's pointing out into the room…in exactly the direction from which his mother happens to have approached him. The glass shatters, and she falls to the ground, shot in the chest. Denise screams. Walter, shocked, lets go of Denise and looks at his gun, stunned, as the cops all move in on him. He throws the gun out into the room -- always a smart thing to do with a loaded weapon -- and Will rushes to Walter's mother. Walter doesn't put up any fight as he drops to his knees with his hands behind his head. The cops deal with Denise and Walter as Will kneels beside Ruth, holding her hand as blood pools behind her head. She raises her head as if to speak, and can't get any words out, so her head just hovers in the air slightly, eyes and mouth wide. She finally drops it back again and wheezes slightly. Sars asks, "Anyone smell ham?" Oh, yeah. Even though nobody in this hotel room eats pork, the scent is all too familiar. Will turns and looks at Toni, and then back at Ruth.