Episode Report Card Couch Baron: A | 495 USERS: A- YOU GRADE IT The Short Goodbye
By Couch Baron | Season 4 | Episode 3 | Aired on 2010.08.08
Joan is standing on a chair pulling pencils out from the ceiling (wonder if this is an example of Harry's fiddling about) when Peggy comes in with a box of flowers for her. When Joan opens it, she sees they're long-stemmed roses and seems quite touched, and Peggy fondly says it's so nice to see someone happily married around there. Seemingly as a reward for her kind words, Joan suggests Peggy leave early, saying she'll make an excuse for her, and Peggy's appreciative, as she does have to buy a dress for New Year's. Joan agrees that she'll want to stand out from the other girls, but when Peggy corrects her that she's spending the holiday with Mark, Joan bids her a quick Happy New Year and leaves the room, and I love how people seem just to have no idea how to deal with the fact that she has a boyfriend. However, Joan, having just read the card, can be forgiven for having something else on her mind...
...as she storms into Pryce's office and bites out a recitation: "Darling, I've been an ass. Kisses, Lane." She throws the flowers at him and seethes that she's not his darling, and while American men are bad enough, "none of them has ever so consistently made me feel like a helpless, stupid little girl." However, Pryce quickly explains that he also sent flowers to his wife. "The sentiments were very different, I assure you." He bellows for his secretary, who gives an unconvincing explanation about florists mixing up orders and whatever, prompting this response from Joan: "Sandra, everyone makes mistakes. But the fact that you're the kind of person who cannot accept blame is egregious." This being prior to the publication of I Always Look Up The Word Egregious, Sandra asks what she means, so Joan clarifies: "I can't believe I hired you." Awesome. Pryce, equally enraged, says he doesn't know if he can even call his wife to apologize, and asks what "Mrs. Harris's" note said; the answer is "Joan, forgive me - Lane." Pryce drops the papers he's holding in chagrin, and Joan summarily cans Sandra, telling her to get her things and that she'll be paid through the end of the year. She leaves, and Pryce impotently barks, "Those instructions you understood!" Hee. Joan says she'll have "Megan" clean up the flowers, and leaves Pryce to do his signature move where he removes his glasses and rubs his eyes for dear life.