Episode Report Card Deborah: B | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Joan of Ark
By Deborah | Season 1 | Episode 4 | Aired on 10.16.2003
The cops are questioning Archie. He doesn't look like the cop-killer type -- whatever that is. He does stare intensely ahead. Seems like a bit of a loon. Daghlian says he's spent a lot of time in jail. He says that was "before." Crowley: "Before you found Jesus?" Archie agrees, and quotes, "'For I shall redeem you, with mighty acts of judgment.'" That's from Exodus 6:6, I believe. Daghlian holds up his hand in a "spare me the sermon, Reverend Freakshow" gesture. Will's watching the interrogation through the window. Daghlian and Crowley take turns playing Exposition Fairy (maybe that should be Exposition Fuzz), saying that Crowley got out of jail ten months ago after being incarcerated for nine years, and got stopped by a cop for speeding. Daghlian: "Maybe you got something in the car you shouldn't have?" Crowley: "Say, a 9 mm?" Daghlian: "So it's either take out the cop, or it's back to Jessup." Daghlian tries to appeal to his fear of eternal punishment. Archie says it's between him and the Lord. And, apparently, the guy in the next stall in the john.
Kevin's painting his little soldier figurines or models or whatever in his room when his mother comes in to confront him about the burnt scrapbook. She asks mildly, "Can you explain this?" Kevin: "Uh, yeah, I ran out of lighter fluid. If I'd had more, there wouldn't be anything left of it at all." Helen says, "This is very hurtful." Kevin: "Tell me about it! It's full of pictures of somebody who doesn't exist anymore. The son Dad really wanted." Helen's exasperated. She plops down on his bed and says, "Honey...you know if he could, your father would change places with you." Kevin: "Well, at least that's something that hasn't changed." Kevin says he was living Will's dream: "Big high school jock, college scholarship, headed for the pros. Everything Dad always wanted for himself. Then I went for a ride in a car and screwed it up for both of us." Helen: "You're blaming him for having memories. Good memories of the feelings you used to share. That's what he misses." She stands up, picks up the scrapbook, and adds, "That's what you threw in the fire."
Now Will's questioning Archie, claiming that he understands what happened, and that Archie probably didn't want to reach for his gun: "A man doesn't always reach for a gun. Sometimes, the Devil puts a gun in his hand." Archie whispers, "Amen." Will: "Devil pulls the trigger." Archie: "Yes." He closes his eyes and sighs. Whatever, freak. Will: "But what I don't understand is: did the Devil pose the body in a crucifixion?" Archie says no. Will: "You did that?" Archie doesn't answer, figuring out where he's been led. Will asks, "Sir, isn't that blasphemy?" Will barks, "No!" He bangs the table. "I placed his mortal remains in the form of our Lord, so it would speed his way to heaven." Sure. It's the Crucifixion Express. He spreads his arms, quivers, and goes into rapturous sermon mode, quoting the Bible about making man in God's likeness. He looks at the forensic photo and asks, "How could this be blasphemy?" Will shows him the photo of Sergeant Milner and asks, "And this one?" Archie says, "I wouldn't cross his legs that way. I didn't do that one." Crowley and Daghlian exchange glances. Will asks Archie to print the words "You're next" on a piece of paper. He complies. Frink thinks he's using the wrong hand to do it. I guess that would be smart. Right away, I say to Frink, "He's going to spell it Y-O-U-R." Indeed, he does. And his handwriting is pretty different from the spraypainting. Will compares the two. He says nothing, and leaves, followed by his Daghlian.