Episode Report Card Deborah: C+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Law And Order: Special Virgins Unit
By Deborah | Season 2 | Episode 19 | Aired on 03.31.2005
Back at the church, which is a very lovely church indeed, Helen and Father Ken climb up to the balcony as she confesses that she's harbouring a lot of angry and negative feelings about Lily. Father Ken comments helpfully, "Anger can be very destructive." Helen whines, "What am I supposed to feel? She's dating my son! And it's weird, and it feels awful, and I hate it, and I want them to stop." Lady, just keep your shirt on. Your prince of a son will probably screw up the relationship in due course. He doesn't have the world's greatest track record. Or have you carefully avoided noticing that? Father Ken: "So…you want to put your happiness before theirs?" She claims she wants them both to be happy: "Just not with each other." Father Ken tries to guess why: "Because…your son could get hurt." Helen: "No, because…" She sighs heavily: "I could lose…Lily…and she's more than a teacher…she's a friend. A nasty, abrasive…honest friend, and I need that. And when their relationship ends -- and it will --" She sighs with exaggerated exasperation, and continues, "I have to take Kevin's side. So what's that gonna do to our friendship? Oh God, I am such a horrible person." I'm having trouble disagreeing with you, here, Helen. I mean, the way I see it, you could simply be supportive, and hope for the best for the two of them -- certainly your expectations and attitude aren't enhancing their chances, and even though I too am doubtful it will work out, if for no other reason than that some other TV show saw fit to snap Constance Zimmer up, never mind Kevin's aforementioned lousy record -- and if it doesn't work out, don't take sides at all. Just stay the hell out of it as much as you can. Yeah, mind your own business. Helen talks about how guilty she feels. Father Ken: "Guilt is the spiritual equivalent of physical pain, and like pain, things go horribly wrong when we ignore it." Helen snaps, "I'm not ignoring it! I confessed! So why don't I feel better?" Father Ken explains patiently, "It's not enough to just say it, Helen. Confession only works if it's accompanied by change." Helen: "How about a few Hail Marys?" Father Ken: "Sorry." Helen: "I'll do a lot of them! A hundred!" I'm endlessly fascinated by how people will almost always pick intense short-term suffering over the minor daily effort of change. Like how more people will choose to half-starve themselves on a ridiculous diet of only grapefruit or eggs or juice for weeks at a time, instead of just eating properly in moderation every day. Sure, it's boring. It also works. Father Ken generously refrains from rolling his eyes.
Joan's still at work when Adam comes by. He pauses outside for a moment, and of course we wonder if he's screwing up his nerve (har) to tell Joan where he's been planting his beanstalk. She's pleasantly surprised to see him: "I thought you were 'special project-ing.'" He says he's not doing that anymore. She asks if something happened with Michael. He says he's just finished. She says that's great. He agrees, saying they can spend more time with each other. He kisses her as enthusiastically as he can, and she says, "Wow, you should finish special projects more often." He kisses her again, and then pulls her into a tight embrace. He buries his face in her neck, but we can see him squeezing his eyes in pain.