Episode Report Card Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Strangers And Brothers
By Niki | Season 1 | Episode 18 | Aired on 03.12.2000
The next morning, Lily, Judy, the kids, and Barbara are in the kitchen getting breakfast. Judy is the only one not wearing pajamas. Zoe asks them what does shiva mean? Barbara asks Judy to explain it. "Why me?" Judy asks. "Because I'm not Jewish," Barbara responds, adding that she offered to convert, but Phil liked her as a shiksa (I apologize if I've gotten the spelling wrong, I'm not familiar with the terms). Apparently shiksa is not such a nice word, because Lily exclaims in surprise and looks at the kids. Judy explains to Zoe that a shiva happens when someone dies -- "passes away," Lily interjects -- and people come for seven days to sit with the family and talk and mark the passing of the dead person. "And eat you out of house and home," Barbara irreverently adds. Grace looks freaked: "For seven days?" she asks in horror. "Oh, don't worry, it's not going to be seven days, this is it!" Barbara the cranky widow assures her. "So that's shiva," Judy concludes lamely. Lily changes the subject by telling her mother she's been thinking over the situation, and she thinks Barbara should stay with them for a while since she has no reason to rush back to Florida. Barbara retains her icy cool and tells Lily that she "needs to make a plan" and get on with her life. Judy says Barbara shouldn't push herself, it's a major life transition she's going through, and "there'll be all kinds of feelings." Barbara's chilly calm finally snaps, and she throws down a dishtowel, telling Judy to stop talking about feelings. She says "feelings" like it's a dirty word. Lily, growing accustomed to her role as peacemaker, hops in to steer the conversation back to her mother's living arrangements. Barbara has her head down, her fingers pressed to her forehead like she's fighting a headache. "Barbara?" a voice calls from another room. "Oh, geez," Barbara says, recognizing the voice. She's not happy that these people -- the Tannenbaums -- are there. She restates that this is it for the shiva before putting on a big fake smile and heading out to greet her guests. Zoe says she's sorry she asked about shivas. The doorbell rings, and Lily shepherds everyone upstairs to get dressed. "Showtime," Grace says, sounding like she's on her way to an execution.
Cut to a sea of dark suits. The camera pans slowly through them and focuses on Judy and Grace, wedged between two old ladies with big, hard hair. The ladies are talking excitedly at each of them about the funeral and how much Phil would have liked it. Judy and Grace are both sporting glazed expressions, staring straight ahead and clearly planning their getaway. The entire time, the camera keeps moving slowly toward them as if the room is closing in, and we get to share their claustrophobic feelings. A torso standing behind Judy drops food on her head. Grace, having reached her limit, excuses herself abruptly, and Judy's right behind her. The two old ladies lean across the void left on the love seat and begin to yap at each other about what nice girls Judy and Grace are.