Episode Report Card Niki: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT It's The End Of The World As We Know It...
By Niki | Season 2 | Episode 19 | Aired on 04.10.2001
Cut to Rick at the office in dim light. Cho pauses on her way out and tells him to go home. Rick hears murmuring as she heads for the door, and a second later, Miles appears. He stands immobile for a second, imperiously looking at Rick. He's lit from below, and his eyes look particularly sunken. He paces in, reciting, "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings. Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair." His eyes rove over the model for a moment, before he apologizes -- yes, you read that right -- to Rick. Rick is unmoved. For some reason, Miles feels the need to point out that "sorry" isn't a word he says very often. Rick angrily walks toward him and asks what he's sorry for: "For the payoffs, for the bribes, or because you got caught?" He folds his arms and stares at Miles self-righteously. Miles smiles indulgently and says he's sorry his "sepulchre might be too late." Rick asks what he's talking about. Miles says they may not have too many chances to speak "in the near future," and he takes a deep breath before saying that he owes Rick an explanation. "You're losing me, Miles," Rick says. "No, you're losing me," Miles says. Angry, Rick blurts, "Where the hell are you going this time?!" not realizing just what an accurate choice of words that is. Miles sees the irony, too, saying, "That's actually very funny. I'll send you a report once I get there." Miles is dying. Fourth-stage pancreatic cancer. Rick's eyes pop and his mouth falls open. Miles looks over the model, saying that for months it's been the focus of both of them, and now it's nothing more than bits of balsa wood and glue. "Is there no cure?" Rick asks. "For ambition?" Miles retorts with a wry smile. "No. For my other disease, apparently not, either." He bends and peers at one of the buildings. Rick's voice is barely a whisper as he asks why Miles is there. Miles straightens, smiling a little before answering, "To tell you what you did was remarkable." Rick stares at him through misty eyes. Miles explains, "Even if no one ever sees it...but me." Okay, I can't help it. I'm tearing up for Miles. I liked this character, even though I know I wasn't supposed to. He walks slowly toward the door, surveying his tiny domain one last time. Rick watches him, saddened, and swallows hard.
Cut to Rick on Karen's porch. He reaches the front door and leans heavily against it, listening to the sounds of laughter within. He pushes off and glances sadly through the window beside the door, watching as Karen and Jessie goof around. Jessie glances up and spots Rick in the window, saying that she has to go. She calls over her shoulder, "I love you, Mommy," and opens the door. Rick leans in and asks if she's set. He and Karen eye each other wordlessly, but this time there's no glaring. It's like they're seeing each other across a gulf, and both are a little sad about the distance. Then Rick snaps out of it and his eyes harden before he shuts the door. Karen is lost in thought, fiddling with her sweater cuffs like a little girl as she turns away from the door. She leans against the wall and wrestles with her decision to turn over the files.