Episode Report Card Niki: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Taking Sides
By Niki | Season 3 | Episode 11 | Aired on 01.03.2002
Soliloquy Karen stands at the water's edge, explaining that there was a moment when she was in the water, before Sam reached her, when she had accepted that she was going to drown. "And for one second, I actually enjoyed being alone at sea. I wasn't a wife anymore, or a mother. I could let it all go. And it was wonderful. It was bliss. I could just float away..."
Those words waft over the present-day Karen, who's huddled on the floor, wracked with sobs.
Cut to Sam striding purposefully toward Judy's apartment. He falters for a second at her door, but then works up the nerve to knock. Judy tells him to "please go away." He says he can't. Judy says she doesn't have anything to say to him. "That's good," he says, which surprises her. He explains, "You've said everything, and for the past two years I haven't said anything that's worth saying, so now it's my turn." He assures her that he'll keep on talking whether she lets him in or not, but it'll be "easier on [his] throat" if she opens the door. Finally, she relents and throws open the door. Sam starts, and sounds a lot like his smarmy schmoozing self. Judy starts to close the door on him, saying she can't do this. Sam stops her, saying he thought he needed to be on his own for a while to figure out who he is and all that other crap. Judy says she knows. "No, you don't know, so would you just shut up for a second?" he demands. Yeah, there's the way straight to my heart. But Judy does shut up, and Sam says, "I've realized that time doesn't mean anything. I was married for ten years, and then I was alone. And I had this image in my head that I would find peace, and I would know what to do. But I have to forget that image, Judy, because if I don't I'm going to lose you." Judy informs him that he's already lost her, and moves to retreat behind the door. Sam begs her not to say that, and pulls her close, saying, "Judy, I love you. I love you. And I need you in my life, and I never let myself need anybody. Not even Janine. And I'm terrified, and it's a horrible, and it's a wonderful feeling, and I'm happy to be able to feel that. Judy, I want to build houses for you, I want to have kids with you, and I want to annoy you, and I want to take care of you when you're sick. And just because I was stupid and scared, it doesn't mean you have to be stupid and scared too. I love you, Judy. I want you in my life. More than anything I've ever wanted. And now, I've finally run out of things to say." Judy stares up at him, already lost, and wonders, "How can I do this?" Sam takes the words right out of my mouth: "Because you have no sense?" She says she called everyone and told them that they're through. Sam looks worried for a second. "Oh, god. Now I've gotta call everyone back," Judy complains. They kiss. Judy laughs ecstatically. Yeah, we'll see how long that lasts.