Episode Report Card Couch Baron: A- | 343 USERS: A- YOU GRADE IT Do You Know How "Taps" Sounds on a Ukulele?
By Couch Baron | Season 3 | Episode 4 | Aired on 2009.09.06
Sally's sitting on her stoop, playing with a doll, when the Oh Shit moment we've been waiting for arrives and a police car pulls up. As if we didn't already know what was coming, as Sally goes to get Betty, the officer doffs his cap as he gets out of the car. He doesn't drag it out, and neither will I: Gene is dead. Sally wails as Betty leans against the column for support, but she recovers quickly, so he tells her that he collapsed in line at the A&P. He does not add, "While buying peaches for a girl who will now feel guilty about that for the rest of her life," but he might as well have. Betty stammers incoherently, but the officer is forced to tell her that they need instructions with respect to Gene's body. Betty acknowledges that absently before heading back inside and shutting the door, leaving a distraught Sally to walk up shakily and rest her head against it. Oh, this poor child, seriously. But at least she has parents who will talk her through this difficult time!
Speaking of whom, Don's in his office when Sal drops by, saying he thought he'd "bring [him]self to the woodshed." Heh. Don deadpans that it must be horrible to have a client insist on something and then change his mind once he sees the finished product. "I hope it never happens to me." Sal's not comforted by Don's self-deprecation, but just as he takes a seat, Don's secretary opens the door and informs him he's got an urgent call from Betty. Don doesn't look like he's anticipating it, and when he hears the news he looks severely bummed and tells Betty he's very sorry. Once he's off, he tells Sal, who's picked up at least a general idea of what's going on, that he has to go, but he shouldn't ruin the only good thing to come out of the Patio debacle. "You are now a commercial director." Sal giddily asks how he knows Don isn't just saying that to spare his feelings, and Don replies that he'll know when he hires him again. He gives Sal a friendly clap on the arm, and Sal looks like he might burst with joy. I think Kitty's still going to go untended, though.