Episode Report Card Niki: B | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Won't Someone Please Help George Bailey Tonight? (2)
By Niki | Season 2 | Episode 20 | Aired on 04.17.2001
Cut to a schmancy ballroom, where Karen and her annoying Girlfriend Friday are just arriving. Karen's wearing this slinky, sequined dove-gray tank with a cowl neckline, and she looks fantastic. She anxiously says they can leave anytime. G.F. scans the room and says, "I don't see him." She volunteers to sign them in, and points Karen toward the bar, which is where Dumanjiak intercepts her. She smiles, a little embarrassed, and says that her firm insisted that she come. She grabs two martinis off the bar and starts walking away. He teases that she's "starting off a little strong," and she says she's there with someone. "Oh -- oh," he says, his face falling. Karen quickly adds that her "date" is her assistant. She mutters, "She's here somewhere," and surveys the crowded room. Dumanjiak makes a joke about how terrifying it is to be in a room full of lawyers, and Karen returns the banter with a smile. Dumanjiak starts to say, "Karen, I know this isn't the time --" just s Karen spots G.F. and calls her over. Turning back to Dumanjiak, she says, "I'm sorry, you were saying?" Dumanjiak's a deer in headlights for a second, until some guy calls G.F. away. Dumanjiak laughs and says he should go and practice his speech; Karen smiles at him again. Maybe the martini's gone to her head. He says, "Well, maybe we could talk later," and Karen solemnly starts to protest. Guess she's not tipsy after all. He promises to find her later and strides off while Karen's ass-pole does a fine imitation of a stir stick.
Cut to Rick and his accountant in a dim restaurant, seated in a banquette near the bar. Rick's asking why they can't separate personal expenses from business, and assures the accountant that he can cut back some more on personal expenses. Well, he could start with the caterers and flowers. Arnold points out that Rick "already live[s] like a pauper," and cites Rick's jacket as evidence, saying, "That jacket is from the seventies." And just what is wrong with that? I happen to have five or six of those. Then again, I'm a pauper. I'm a pauper, he's a pauper -- would you like to be a pauper too? Sorry. Cho just happens to be at the same restaurant and stops by the table to tell Rick that she and a few other associates are drowning their sorrows at the bar, if he'd like to join them later. Don't they know that drinking doesn't solve anything?
Meanwhile, Dumanjiak's speech is getting underway. He makes the requisite roast-type jokes, and the crowd chuckles obligingly. Dumanjiak says that the "more you get to know [the honoree], the more you want to hate him," because he's got so much going for him. He starts rhyming off a shopping list of admirable traits, leading to "he does the right thing." Karen stops laughing and smiling, and just stares, transfixed. Dumanjiak stares back, as he directs the rest of his speech to her. It's all about how the guy stays true to his ethics, even in the face of temptation, and always ends up making the right decision, and how Dumanjiak is hot for Karen and wants to "do the right thing" with her, if you know what I'm saying, and I think Karen does. Karen stares at Dumanjiak, looking positively luminous.