The Opposite Dex

S02E04

So, Dexter's NA sponsor, Lilah, is turning into a bit of a chore. After forcing Dexter to join her in desecrating public fixtures (despite his desire to stay under the radar) and unveiling her interest in found (read: shitty) art, Dexter tries to "break up" with her. It doesn't take, however, because she stalks him and tries to make him realize that despite his belief that he's "evil," there are no absolutes when it comes to good and bad.

A visit to a recently shot and killed woman makes Doakes realize the killer is an ex-special ops guy, just like himself. When he's finally able to track the guy down, he admits that he killed his wife, and opts for suicide by cop instead of going to the slammer for life, but not before bonding with Doakes over the impossibility of getting over certain aspects of being a Ranger.

Lundy and Deb have made progress on the BHB, having realized that only five of their eighteen confirmed bodies don't have obvious criminal pasts. Lundy reminds Deb, after announcing that he's going on a date, that social lives are important to maintain balance. Deb takes this as, "Go find that dude you almost took boxing lessons from that one time, but freaked out because he whipped out tape, and bone him silly after handcuffing him to your bed." Luckily for us, Dex walks in on them for some much needed comic relief.

Rita's mom's in town, and she announces at the dinner table that she applauds the BHB's work, making Dexter blush. Rita's also getting on Dexter's case about getting a more "manly" sponsor at NA, but she's clearly just intimidated by what a babe Lilah turned out to be.

The biggest break in the BHB case is from Masuka, who's discovered that the algae found on the rocks used to bury the bodies can be used to pinpoint the boat used to dump them. Dexter gets the idea to cut the air conditioning to the temporary morgue, something easily blamable on the sanitation department, but it backfires on him, because only the bodies get slimy, not the rocks, because they're in a separate fridge. Drats, foiled again!

Oh, also? LaGuerta's the one who's been boning Pascal's fiancé. Yeah, I know. Weak. Though, it does explain a lot. I actually can't believe I didn't think of it before. No wonder LaGuerta's been so nice to her. Anyway, Pascal totally loses it and LaGuerta gets the Lieutenant-ship back from Mathstor. I have no idea how the writers plan to work this one out.

Previously: Dex's bodies got found by treasure hunters. Agent Lundy picked his task force, which included Angel, Masuka, and Deb. Mathstor asked LaGuerta if he should be worried about Pascal's absenteeism, and LaGuerta essentially told him to fuck off. Deb almost took a boxing lesson with some guy, but when he busted out his tape to wrap her wrists, she freaked and took off. After Rita convinced Dexter to go to NA for his "heroin addiction," Dexter met a fetching lass named Lilah, who was able to see right through his bullshit. Last season, LaGuerta asked Doakes about a "special op" mission he went to in Haiti, and the fact that this is in the previouslies makes me wonder if that's going to be relevant in this episode. Dexter pointed out Lilah to Rita, and Rita was instantly threatened because Lilah's kind of a babe.

Dexter's reading the paper, VOing, "Just as the worst heat wave in years hits Miami, the heat is also on me." He reads the headline that says, "Police Manhunt Intensifies." "It's week three of the Bay Harbor Butcher investigation, and super-duper Special Agent Lundy has yet to throw up his hands and say, 'Wow, this guy's good. I give up.'" Rita's scrubbing the floor obsessively, and asks Dexter to move his feet. He asks if she wants any help, and she says she just wants him to move. "I'm sorry, it's just, you know, my mother's coming today." "I certainly do." Heh. Rita explains that she just wants everything to be nice, since her mother and FND didn't get along so well. "A lot of people didn't get along with Paul so well." "Yeah," she says, "but I think she's willing to put all that behind us." Well, that's good. "She heard of Paul's passing and wanted to come be supportive. That sounds promising, right?" "Absolutely," says Dex. Rita goes on to tell Dexter that he'll like her: "She's great. She's a very strong woman." "I'll keep that in mind in case I have any heavy lifting to do." Yeah, ha ha. Not. Cody comes in and complains about the heat, and Rita tries to assure him that it should cool down soon. "Did you sleep any better last night?" she asks, and he responds with a shrug. "Nightmares?" asks Dex. "What was it, the big, scary ghost or the alligator?" "No, the Bay Harbor Butcher," Cody replies. Ooh! It all hits home, doesn't it, Dexter? Rita seems exasperated by this response, but Dexter tells Cody, "He's never hurt you. I'll let you in on a secret: my sister, Debra, who is a secret police agent ninja warrior, said he only kills bad people. You're not a bad person, are you?" Obviously, Cody doesn't consider precocious child actors with bowl haircuts "bad," so he responds, "No." Rita tells Cody to go get dressed while she makes breakfast, and after he's gone she pulls off her rubber gloves angrily while bitching about the "monster out there that's scaring my son." Dexter looks away awkwardly, and then stands up saying he has to go to work. "I hope they catch him today," says Rita. "And, I'm not a violent person, but I hope they hurt him. Have a good day!" she finishes, and kisses Dexter goodbye. "Make up your mind," VOs Dex on his way out. Meh.

By Mr. Stupidhead

Down at the station, Dexter see Mathstor and Lundy walking by, followed by a sketchy looking Pascal, all of whom are looking in his direction ominously. "In our most paranoid moments, we fear that everyone is talking about us," VOs Dexter. "That's become my reality." He watches everyone on Lundy's task force communing in the Show and Tell room. "I can't hear what they're saying, but I know it's not nice."

"Let's get started," says Lundy, projecting a slide. "We have positive I.D.s on all eighteen of our complete bodies. Thirteen of those have felony records." Mathstor wonders aloud if organized crime is a direction to go in, but Lundy says no. "No mutual gang affiliation, either. But all thirteen were either tried for murder, or at least suspected of murder." Pascal sees her fucking fiancé out in the hall, and leaves the room without even excusing herself. Dude, please tell me this shit is going to come to an end soon. I'm so sick of this stupid story-line, I can't even tell you. Mathstor offers his opinion that they should announce this development ASAP, and Lundy asks, "What development?" "That our serial killer is only killing the dregs of society, that good and moral people have nothing to fear." Lundy disagrees: "This is the only lead we have. We need to keep it tightly wrapped." Mathstor explains that an elderly man shot his son the evening when he got home late from work: "He thought he was the Bay Harbor Butcher. You've got a city in chaos, here, Frank." Mathstor hikes up his pants and wears a face that looks like he's in a pissing contest with Lundy or something. "I understand your wanting to reassure the people --" starts Lundy, but Mathstor cuts him off: "Good, then we're in agreement." Not exactly, douche, but whatever. Deb looks on unbelievingly.

Back in the lab, Dexter is still looking on, and Masuka comes barreling through the door. "Dex! I got this huge break in the Bay Harbor case!" he says excitedly on his way to the Show and Tell room. "Bullshit!" says Dex instinctively. "I mean, really?" Masuka's too amped to pay attention to this little slip-up as he runs into the room to share his good news. "I refuse to believe that Vince Masuka is the man who single-handedly brings me down," Dex VOs as he watches Masuka high-fiving Angel. "I also know denial is the first stage of the grieving process for those who learn they're going to die. I need to find out what Masuka knows, but I've got to be calm, and centered...and focused." Dex gets up and heads to the elevator. "Time for a visit to my sponsor. I need help."

By Mr. Stupidhead

Dexter's at what I'm assuming is Lilah's place, and as he walks into a large room from a dark hallway, he looks around, amazed, as the sound of welding crackles off-screen. What Dexter sees is a bunch of mannequin art, and the mannequins are all Frankensteined together, and in poses of disturbing, orgiastic pleasure. I think this is going to work out well. Dexter calls out, "Hi!" to Lilah, the welder. She tells him to wait just a second as she finishes something up, and when she does, she lifts her mask and says, "Dexter!" "I hope I'm not interrupting anything," he says trepidatiously, and she replies, "No, I'm glad you called. Just give me a minute. Have a look around." She goes to the back of her workspace and changes shirts as Dexter admires her artwork. "I was just going to go get some art supplies, you wanna come?" she asks. "Yeah, I'm just on my lunch break." "Excellent." As they head out, Dexter notices one couple of Frankenquins that seem to be devouring one another. "Why are they eating each other?" "Don't know. Ask them," she replies with a smile. Yyyyyyeeeeeaaaaahhhhh.

Dexter and Lilah drive around in her beat-up old jeep-style truck, and for the first time I can remember on this show, a song with lyrics is playing in the soundtrack. "It's a long way home, all I see is darkness," are the only words, apparently. Lilah small-talks, "Do you like the heat?" "Not really. I'm partial to air conditioning." "I love it. Makes me feel like the whole world could explode at any moment." Well, how...edgy of you. I'm already starting to get annoyed by this chick. "That's a pleasant thought," says Dex. "Is there an art store near here?" Lilah asks him distractedly if he's been using, and doesn't even listen as Dexter responds, because she's pulling a U-turn. "Look what we have here!" she says as she rams the truck's front end into a horse-headed post. "Jesus, what are you doing?" asks Dexter. "Come on," Lilah says, and hops out of the car to grab the dislodged post. Oh, God. This is the type of "eccentricity" I can't abide. "You gonna help or what?" she asks, trying to lift the thing herself. Reluctant to be a party to destruction of public property lest it should draw attention to him, yet still intrigued, Dexter jumps out and quickly helps her drag the thing to the back of her truck. They peel out, and he looks at her unbelievingly. "That was a little weird." Changing the subject, she says, "So, if you're perfectly clean, why'd you call?" "I'm under a lot of pressure at work. I was hoping you could give me some quick tips on how to deal with the urges." She tells him there are no quick tips.

Now, Lilah's stealing someone's wind-chimes, and Dexter says he thought they were going to get art supplies. "I work with found art," she says, irking me even further. "More like stolen art," says Dexter. "Is this what a sponsor normally does on their first meeting?" "I dunno, I've never sponsored anyone before." Well, that's just great. "But don't worry," she continues as she steals more wind-chimes, "I've had tons of sponsors, so I learned from the best." "You do realize I work for the police department?" "If we get caught, you can flash your badge!" she replies, demonstrating her complete lack of understanding about police procedure. "I don't have a badge, I have a laminate," he says pathetically.

Back at her truck, Dexter implores her to talk to him about why he came to her. "Oh, you want help? Okay...why do you use?" "Why? I don't know, it's just part of who I am." "And, who are you?" "I'm a...bad person." Lilah laughs at this, and tells him he doesn't have the faintest idea about who he actually is. "Dexter? Meet Dexter. I'm going to help the two of you get to know each other," she says, jumping into the truck. What does that even mean? "I don't think that's necessary," says Dex, and I couldn't agree more. "The first step to recovery is accepting who you are," Lilah says. "You're going to tell me all your deepest, darkest secrets!" Oh, Christ. I smell a flashback coming on...

Totally! Young Dexter is in a dark room, watching through a crack and listening to his parents talk. "There's something...off about him, Harry," says his step-mom. "You know why," Harry replies. "All rright, look. It wouldn't hurt to have him tested, would it?" Harry looks displeased with this idea. Hmm. More on that later, I guess.

Dexter's phone rings, and after a few short words, he tells Lilah, "I gotta get back. Dead body." "How many times have you used that one before?"

Dex arrives at the crime scene and asks LaGuerta what's up. "Gunshot victim. Alicia Barnes, thirty-six." Dexter examines the body briefly, then prods LaGuerta for some details about the break in the BHB case. She doesn't seem to know any details, and Doakes walks in. "The neighbor heard the victim arguing with her husband last night. Curtis Barnes." Ignoring this, Dexter says how excited Masuka was about the development, but LaGuerta's not listening. "Husband's car is gone," continues Doakes, "nobody knows where he is." "Any idea what they found?" Dexter asks, pissing Doakes off. "Can we concentrate on this here, please?" Dexter says, "Sure," and breaks it down. The victim was shot very precisely, twice in the chest and once in the head. "She was Mozambiqued," says Doakes. Nobody knows what that means. "Triple-tapped." Doakes looks around, and spots pictures of Barnes on active duty. Then, noticing keepsakes on the table, "A Russian grenade, a Kurdish dagger...tell me that shit wasn't stolen from Saddam's palace." "What are you saying?" asks LaGuerta. "I'm saying asshole's special ops, there's no doubt about it." Ah, so that's why they had that bit from last year in the previouslies. I know they'd make it relevant. "Huh, they're generally known for settling their arguments so peaceably," Dexter says sarcastically. "Don't get smart with me." "Sounds like we're in your world, James," says LaGuerta. "Yeah, I'll take lead on this one." Great. You do that.

By Mr. Stupidhead

Dexter's phone rings, and after a few short words, he tells Lilah, "I gotta get back. Dead body." "How many times have you used that one before?"

Down at the morgue, Angel and Deb bust through the plastic doorway as Lundy tells them to "Pick a body. This is where the case is going to be made. We have thirteen suspected murderers, and then we have these gentlemen. Robert Thatcher, janitor for the school district with no criminal record. Marcus White, tow-truck driver. No criminal record." He goes on to the others, all with no criminal record. Angel asks why the killer cut the bodies up, and Masuka says it was for "easy disposal." "Or for fun," adds Deb, drawing stares. "You don't kill this many people because it's a chore. You do it because you like it." Fair enough.

Doakes is just getting off the phone at the station, and LaGuerta wonders if it has to do with the Barnes case. "Yeah, that was a buddy of mine from special ops. He heard Curtis Barnes is still in Miami." "Hmm. The only part of that that I find surprising is that you have a buddy." Doakes explains that himself and Barnes were both Ranger RRD, or Regimental Reconnaissance Detachment: "The guys you're not supposed to know about that get in before everybody else. My buddy put me in touch with a guy from Curtis's unit. He's willing to talk to me." "Good," says Maria as Dexter comes up with Doakes's blood report. "It's all pretty straight-forward, but I'd be careful, though." "Why's that?" asks Doakes. "The trajectory of the bullets are all level, with the exact same angle of origin. I'd say all three shots were fired in less than a second. It's very impressive shooting." Doakes and Maria share a look, and Pascal steps out of her office to summon Dexter.

As everyone sets the table in slow-motion, Dex VOs, "I've always been good with parents. The key is to simply think of them as aliens from a distant universe." He looks at the fabric of Mama's shirt sleeve: "You have fibers and threads unknown to us." As she prays: "Your ancient customs intrigue me." "So, Dexter, tell me everything there is to know about you," says Mama, back in the real world. "You have made me your sworn enemy, evil woman," he VOs as he finishes chewing. "I work in the forensics department for the Miami Metro PD, and I'm very fond of your daughter." "Good answer. I'm also very fond of my daughter." Dexter compliments her on her parenting, and she mentions her thirty-plus years as a school teacher. "I see a young man who's not eating," she says, referring to Cody. "I'm not hungry." "He's scared the butcher's gonna get him," says Astor. Dexter reminds them both that the BHB only goes after bad guys, but Cody says, "But, I was bad today. I threw a ball at Tommy Alvarez." What a little wuss. You threw a ball? Jeez. "Well, that's not too bad," says Dex. "And, even if it was, the BHB doesn't hurt kids." Relieved, Cody tucks into his food. Rita reiterates her hope that the PD hurries up and catches the guy, but Mama expresses her belief that "if he only goes after criminals, I say leave him alone. He's got my seal of approval." This last line was delivered right at Dexter, as though she knows it's him. "Perhaps I have misjudged you, oh wise one," he VOs, taking a sip of water. Nice.

In the BHB task force room, Lundy watches as Deb writes "Murder" on one of the victim's whiteboards. "Really?" "Yeah, sister spilled everything. She thinks he killed their parents and made it look like a car accident. The living trust was in his name." "Nice work!" Deb wonders aloud what they're going to have for dinner tonight, and Lundy announces that he has a "social appointment." "You mean, like, a date?" "I guess you could call it that." Deb gives a little ribbing, and he tells her it's "an introduction arranged by a friend. One needs to get out and have a little fun, on occasion. It's something I strongly recommend for you, as well." Deb makes excuses about the hours they work, but Lundy insists that he's serious. "It'll help keep you better balanced." "Yes, sir," she smiles.

Dexter's spaced out, and Rita asks him if he's okay. "Yeah, it's just...something at work." "Are you handling it okay?" He tells her he saw his sponsor at lunch, and Rita looks a little sick. "How'd that go?" "Not so great. She's a little odd. Plays a little loose with the twelve steps." Rita tries to convince Dex that maybe he should try someone else, and he bullshits that he just wants "to do what's best" for his recovery. "Well, maybe someone older, more like you, more...manly," she suggests. "Yeah, maybe."

Over at the gym, Deb spots the dude from her almost-boxing lesson the other week, and some seriously porny and horny sounding music is playing in the soundtrack. They continue to check each other out across the room for about a minute, when he finally walks up and says, "Hey." "Hey," Deb replies, then asks, "You remember me?" "Yeah, you're the girl who doesn't like tape." See, Mrs. S? I told you there were others. "Debra, actually," she responds, and the guy introduces himself as Gabriel. "You done for the night?" asks Deb. He is, so Deb asks him out for a drink, and the thing we see is the two of them on Dexter's bed, goin' at it pretty heavy. Gabe asks her if she's usually this forward, and she says, "No, I haven't even had sex since..." "Since what?" She doesn't answer, she just grabs her handcuffs, and he's all, "Whoa, whoa!" Not caring, she cuffs him to the bed-frame, and he says, "Oh, so you're into the kinky stuff, huh?" "Well, the last guy I had sex with tried to kill me." Once he's all cuffed up, they start making out again. Dexter comes home, and I can't believe how long it takes him to notice the "ooo-eee, ooo-eee" sounds emanating from his bedroom. He slams down an issue of South Miami magazine, which has a cover story about the BHB. "'Who Is The Bay Harbor Butcher?' God, this obsession with him is relentless, just like Deb and that damn treadmill." Oh, I see. He thinks the boinking in the bedroom is actually Deb working out. Dex pops a beer, and goes to bedroom saying, "Deb, do you ever stop?" as he opens the door to a butt-naked Deb doing the horizontal mambo with her workout buddy. She instantly wheels around, all, "Dexter, Jesus! You're supposed to be at Rita's!" She's a poet and doesn't know it. That was embarrassing.

The following morning, Dex is making breakfast when Deb comes out. They pointedly avoid eye-contact. "Good morning," says Dexter, hesitantly. "That was a little weird, last night," says Deb, cutting through the small-talk. "No...yeah, well it was dark. All I could see were shadows." "Please put those shadows out of your mind." Changing the subject, Dexter asks Deb about the break in the BHB case. "Algae." "Algae?" "Yeah, Masuka found microscopic algae inside the garbage bags with the bodies." "Algae, under the sea. Imagine that. How does that help?" Deb breaks it down: since there are over one-hundred-thousand species of algae, Masuka is under the impression he can use them to pinpoint which harbor the BHB is using to keep his boat in. "He's got some marine biologist coming down to help him out. Can you imagine something so little being the thing that breaks this case?" Deb takes off as Dexter VOs, "It doesn't make sense. If there were algae on my victims, it would have to come from the ocean where I dumped them. Obviously, I'm missing something, and I don't like that."

At the station, Angel is interviewing the wife of the victim he's working on, Mrs. Sota. "Mrs. Sota, I understand you wanting to protect your husband's reputation, but I also have to tell you that your cooperation could help us catch a serial killer." "I am cooperating," she says, and I don't buy it. "You haven't told me anything!" "Because there's nothing to tell!" Angel looks up and sees another member of the task force writing murder under his victim's name, and he looks annoyed at his own lack of progress.

Doakes is leaving the station, and LaGuerta asks if he's going to meet his buddy's friend from Curtis's unit. He is, indeed, at the Blue Wing Marina. LaGuerta wants to know if he's bringing backup. "Oh, yeah, all kinds of backup. Helicopters and shit." She tries to give him shit, but he stops her: "Listen, we've got a missing murder suspect. This guy's a friend of his. I'm just going to go talk to him." Fair enough, bro, do your thing. "Right," says LaGuerta skeptically as she watches him leave.

"You're the lone holdout," says Angel. "Every other suspect has a criminal past, and that's not just any criminal past. They were all linked to murder." "Oscar never murdered anybody," says Mrs. Sota. "Then why was he killed?" "I don't know, maybe he found out who the serial killer is!" Angel gets all sarcastic and says, "Oh, I see. He was an engineer and a secret crime fighter." Mrs. Sota's had enough, and takes off.

Down at the Blue Wing Marina, Doakes has found the boat he's looking for, the S.S. FUBAR, like ha ha. "Hello?" he says, and a man emerges from the quarters below deck. "You Doakes?" he says. "I am, and I'm guessing you're not going to tell me your name." "I'm Curtis Barnes." Doakes looks a little surprised. "I checked you out," Barnes continues. "We know a lot of the same people. Everyone says I can trust you." "You can trust me." "I just need forty-eight hours. I got somebody that's going to take me to Cuba, but it's gonna take a day to get the papers I need." "So, what are you asking?" "Stall the investigation." Doakes asks him if he killed his wife, and Barnes says yes. "Turn around," says Doakes, drawing his firearm, but Barnes has already drawn his, too. "You are not arresting me." Well, this is exciting. Except...not.

Lundy walks into the BHB room, and Deb asks him how his "social appointment" went. "Oh, you know." Actually, I don't think she does, that's why she's asking. Not caring, Deb says, "I took your advice." "My advice?" "To get out and have some fun? Got laid, big time." Ha! Okay, that's fucking funny. That's the Deb I've been missing: the same one who totally dorked out in front of the mirror last season while listening to Eric Carmen. Lundy probably doesn't love that Deb, because he just says, "Oh. Well." Embarrassed, Deb is all, "I mean, I don't usually just go to the gym and pick up strangers." "The gym!" says Lundy, and they both share a laugh. "Really, you have to save me, here, or I'm going to go outside and shoot myself." "Well, the way you're going, you'd probably miss. My date? Was horrible. I picked her up, and I don't know Miami, so I got us completely lost, and she was chattering away the whole time about some yogi master I just have to meet, so by the time we even got to the restaurant, I was tearing my hair out." So on, so forth. Lundy says the whole thing reminded him that he shouldn't be dating. "Of course you should be," says Deb, confused. "No, it comes down to simple mathematics. A really beautiful relationship is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, and I've already had mine." Oh, I see. So now we have to care about your life, too? Jeez.

In the lab, Dexter grabs Masuka: "Hey, I heard you found some algae that might help crack the big case?" "You heard right!" says Vince, excited to geek out. "What kind of algae?" "Diatoms. Eukaryotic algae." "Okay, this is the first time I regret not being a bigger nerd," Dexter VOs, and...heh. "Eukaryotic?" Masuka tells Dex the marine biologist, Manny, can explain it when he comes down. "He's picking up the evidence tomorrow so he can study it in his own lab. You know marine biologists: real prima donnas." Yeah, those wacky marine biologists and their desire to...do things correctly? Pascal, looking distraught, calls Masuka: "Up front!" "Oh, no, it's that crazy witch," Vince utters under his breath, and goes over to her. "What is this shit?" she asks him as everyone looks on. "I told you to find a smell. It smells like another woman. I can smell it, why can't you!" She throws a file at him, and he just stands there. "This man is ruining my life, and you all go on like nothing is happening!" Everyone's afraid to make eye-contact with her, but LaGuerta goes up and comforts her, then escorts her to her office. "This is the kind of thing that makes me glad I have no feelings," VOs Dex. Amen, brother. "Like I always say, never take your dirty laundry to work."

Back with Doakes and Barnes, who are still locked onto one another with their weapons. Barnes makes the Hey, I'm Going To Lower My Weapon, Don't Fuckin' Shoot Me gesture, and Doakes lowers his weapon as well. "We can stand here all fuckin' day," says Doakes. "I don't give a fuck. But you gon' put that gun down." "Now, we were both Rangers. That bond goes deep. That doesn't mean anything to you?" "If you weren't a Ranger, I would've shot yo' ass by now. You killed your wife, man." Barnes explains that he didn't mean to, and then asks Doakes if he was ever married. "Once." "She dropped your ass, didn't she? Why? Got tired of you punchin' holes in the walls? Wakin' up in the middle of the night, screamin'? Was she always yellin', 'You gotta get help!'? She sends you to a doctor, but you don't go, because you know there's no help for this kind of fucked up. Finally she can't take it anymore, and just says, 'Adios.' That sound about right?" Doakes says he's got it wrong, because he's the one who left. "Why was that?" asks Barnes. "I was afraid if I didn't, I'd kill her." Well, well, well. If it isn't Doakesy, the other killer on this show. I know you guys didn't already forget about that Bayard guy from the Tonton Macoute last season, did you? Doakes and Barnes share a meaningful look, and Barnes says, "Let's take the boat out." "Why would we want to do that, man?" "Get out of this heat, for one. Nice ocean breeze. Maybe head toward Cuba." "No." "Come on, just get me within sight. I could swim from there." "You're wasting your time. Curtis, you're going back to the station with me." "Can't get you to reconsider?" "Not a chance." "That's too bad," says Barnes, who raises his weapon again. Doakes blasts him twice in the chest, killing. "Motherfucker." Yeah, great. Don't care.

Dexter and Lilah are having some soda pool-side, somewhere. "You going to tell me how you're doing?" she asks. "I'm fine." "Come on, Dex. Open up." "Very fine?" She tells him he has to try harder. "What are you thinking?" "I'm afraid we're...done, you and I." "You're serious? You're...'breaking up' with me?" "Actually, I don't think I want to answer any more questions." Flashback time.

"Listen, Dexter," says Harry. "Whatever you think is right is wrong. He asks you a question, I want you to think of your answer first, then tell him the exact opposite, okay?" A bit later, a man says, "So, let's just jump in, alright? Does it make you angry when your teachers tell you what to do?" "No," replies young Dex. "Are you often bored?" "No." "Have you ever killed an animal?" "No, never."

Back at the table, Dexter says he needs to get back to work. "Thanks, for everything." Lilah just nods to excuse him.

Mathstor walks up to LaGuerta at the station and mentions that he heard about "Pascal's little meltdown." "She's been under a lot of stress." Mathstor calls her out on defending her again, and LaGuerta mentions that Pascal is her superior, after all. "You know, I may have misjudged you, Maria. Maybe you are more than a political animal. You just might be a real cop." He goes on to tell her she's got the position of Lieutenant back, if she wants it. "Pascal just set women in the department back twenty years. It's up to you to turn that around." Hmm, we'll see about that. I was just starting to like the new, humbled LaGuerta. But why was she being so nice to Pascal this whole time? Does she feel guilty for something?

"There it is," VOs Dexter, who's standing outside the BHB morgue. "Like a gigantic white whale. My Moby Dick." Angel walks up, and says, "Man, this heat. I can't take it. I gotta get in my car before I fuckin' melt." Jackpot! "Which is exactly what needs to happen to my dearly departed friends!" he VOs.

Dex walks over to his minivan, and there's Lilah, checking out her makeup in the side-view. "Lilah, what are you doing here?" "Hey, Dexter. I've been thinking about you 'breaking up' with me, and, well...I don't think it's in your best interests." Dexter looks at her for a long moment, and says, "I'm tired, and hot, and I have somewhere to be." She stops him: "I think you should give me another chance." "There's nothing you can do to help me. It's not even you, it's me. I am who I am, and nobody's going to change that." "Whatever you think you are, you don't have to be that." "That's where you're wrong." Lilah tells him to stop judging himself, and that there are no absolutes: "No one's all good or all evil." Dexter leans in close like he's going to kiss her, but instead shoves aside, saying, "You're just going to have to trust me on this." She yells at him, saying that he turns himself into a monster in order to avoid responsibility for what he does. He counters by asking her if she really believes there aren't monsters in this world: "You don't believe people are evil?" She shakes her head, vaguely. "I'll show you evil."

They walk into the BHB morgue, and Lilah looks like her mind is blown. "Well, do you want me to open one?" asks Dex. Without a word, Lilah walks over to a body and picks up the file laying to it. "Joseph Zupita," says Dexter as he opens the body bag. "Wow," says Lilah. "Can I touch?" "Okay," he says, not having expected that reaction. "I've never seen anything like this before." "You're not disgusted? Appalled? Horrified?" "It's...incredible." "But, the person who did this --" "Is a person just like me," she says unexpectedly. "Like you. We're all good, Dexter, and we're all evil." Dexter stands quietly, and VOs, "I thought I closed the door to anyone ever seeing me for who I am, but this woman sees me." Really, dude? Her? I don't know. "She doesn't know it, but she's looking behind the mask and she's not turning away." Another flashback, anyone? Heh, like you have a choice.

"You really impressed me in there, today, son," says Harry. "I don't know how you did it, but great job." "I just pretended to be someone else," says young Dex. "Well, it's working. Keep doing it. I mean, that doctor didn't even see the monster inside you." Dexter gives him a look, and so do I. "I mean, not 'monster,'" Harry backtracks, "it's just, son, you know you have these dark urges. Anyway, good job!" Hmm, yeah. Harry was kind of a dick, sometimes.

"Somehow, even under all this pressure, she's able to make me feel okay about who I am, and what I am," Dex's VO finishes as he and Lilah walk back to the car. "So, see you soon?" she says. "Yes," replies Dex, in a bit of a daze. She smiles and hugs him, saying, "I'm here for you." Then she plants a kiss on him, no tongue or anything, but still pretty suggestive. She gets in her car and takes off. Hmm, wonder where this is going...

Angel's knocking on someone's front door, and it turns out to be Mrs. Sota from before. "I've already told you everything," she says, and Angel says he knows, but he wanted to come and apologize. "You were very rude," she says. "I was," he acknowledges. "It was shameful of me to disgrace the memory of your husband." She thanks him, but still looks a little cautious. "It's been a rough few days, not that you should care about that, but all these bodies...I've never seen anything like it. All murdered, and cut into pieces. The only way I could make sense out of it was to convince myself they deserved it. They all needed to be bad people. But I should never have taken it out on you." Good man, Morales. Batista, sorry. Changing the subject, he asks her if she can "feel it." "The breeze? Coming over the water? It's nice." "Yeah, it's finally cooling down," he says, putting on his hat and motioning to leave. She stops him: "Wait. My husband, he kept guns hidden in the walls. I can show you." She leads Angel inside by the hand, and he takes off his hat before entering like a true gentleman.

By Mr. Stupidhead

Back at the table, Dexter says he needs to get back to work. "Thanks, for everything." Lilah just nods to excuse him.

Dex is mowing through breakfast as Rita stands at the counter in the kitchen looking on. "So, I think I misjudged Lilah," says Dexter after he finishes masticating. Rita, looking disappointed, asks, "Are you sure?" "Well, she's unconventional, but I think she's the best sponsor...for me." "Well, if she can help keep you clean..." she says, trying to hide her jealousy. Cody runs in wearing a paper hat, yelling, "chop chop chop chop chop chop..." "Who's this?" asks Dexter. "Is it Robin Hood?" "No, I'm the Butcher Man!" yells Cody, a little to precociously for my tastes. Mama comes in and says, "I made [the costume] for him. I thought it might help with the nightmares." "Bet you didn't know you could fly!" Dex tells him, and picks him up for a game of Aeroplane. As they play, Dex VOs, "Have I misjudged Lilah? I have no idea. I do know she's helping me look at myself in a different way." Mama walks over to Rita, and says, "He's good, that one." "I know," says Rita, smiling. "I got lucky." "Quite an actor. He's hiding something, I'm sure of it." Rita gives her a Nothing's Ever Good Enough For You, Is It? face, which slowly turns into concern, because mothers just know these things? I don't know.

Over at the BHB morgue, the marine biologist is talking about algae with Lundy as they head inside. "We know we're talking about a fresh-water marina, and the algae can tell us more about what kind of pollutants were in the water." Huh, that's kind of fucking interesting, man. As they all step into the morgue, the stench hits them immediately, and the biologist can't take it, so he runs out and hoarks up his breakfast. Lundy opens up one of the body bags to find the body is pretty much pink goo. "Dammit!" he yells as he leaves the building, leaving Masuka standing there, wordless.

"For the first time, I feel the future might hold something different for me," Dex VOs as he walks into the office in slow-motion. "Perhaps I'm just fooling myself, but I'm willing to take the risk." "Fucking garbage men," says Masuka as he meets up with Dex in the hallway. "Huh?" says Dex, playing dumb. "They broke the refrigeration unit, it blew hot air in all night. It turned the bodies into pink mush." "How awful!" sympathizes Dexter fakely. "Completely ruined," says Masuka. "You brought your marine biologist and everything." "Yeah. It made him vomit," says Masuka, who starts laughing geekily. Dexter joins him in the chuckle, until Masuka mentions that the algae rocks were stored separately, so they're safe. Dexter's face falls as Masuka says they should know in a week or so where the killer's boat is. After Masuka leaves, Dex VOs, "It's an odd sensation to be experiencing what might be called 'hope' for the first time in my life. At the same time, I suddenly feel myself weighing the benefits of electrocution versus lethal injection. But, here I am." Yes, there you are. There you are. But for how long?

By Mr. Stupidhead

A sanitation truck is rolling by outside the BHB morgue just as Dexter scales the fence and VOs, "I've broken in to my own place of employment, but desperate times..." Dexter makes his way over to the refrigeration unit, which is right behind a small dumpster on wheels. He kicks the main coil, breaking it, and a bunch of green coolant comes pouring out. "Garbage men can be so careless," he VOs as he shoves the dumpster over to make it look as though it knocked the fridge unit. Nice moves, Dex.

"I say put this Bay Harbor Butcher on the city payroll," says a talking head on a TV at the gym. "Give him a corner office, a company car, and all the ammunition he needs. At least somebody is doing something to clean up Miami, which is more than I can say for those folks down at city hall." Deb is doing some military presses, which are hard as hell. If she's doing any more than thirty pounds per arm, I'm mega-impressed. Gabe walks in, and Deb does the Hey, What's Up, We Totally Boned But I Don't Know That Much About You And I'm Kind Of Embarrassed About The Desperate Way I Acted Last Night, So Please Be Kind wave. "Hey, Debra," he says with a smile. "Hi. Sorry about last night." "Don't be. Maybe we can, uh, do it again?" "How would you feel about a real date?" she asks. "You know, with clothes on." "Oh, where we actually talk and get to know each other?" "Yeah, yeah, something like that." He says it sounds good to him, and asks if Saturday's good, and it's on. They shake on it, awkwardly, but both giggle to show the other person they're aware of how awkward it is. Deb smiles her big, toothy smile, and I'll admit it: I'm happy for her.

By Mr. Stupidhead

LaGuerta's in bed watching TV, where some more news folk are talking more about the BHB. A hand reaches up from behind her holding a remote, and shuts off the tube. "This is the last time," says LaGuerta. Wait a fucking second, here. Who the...what...who the fuck is in bed with her? Oh, no! No! "Bertrand?" "Babe," says Pascal's fiancé, sitting up. Oh, for fuck's sake. Now I have to care about this? Ugh. He tries to convince her that she doesn't mean it, but she says that she does. "I can't see you anymore." He tells her that "she's gone, it's over with. Now we can finally be out in the open!" He starts kissing her, but she pushes him off, telling him to stop: "Go back to Esme." "So, what, this is how it is? You get your job back, and now you're through with me?" God, I fucking hope so. I'm so very tired of this storyline. "Don't play the victim," she says. "You knew what this was from the beginning." "You are one cold-hearted bitch, I'll tell you that," he says, clearly pretty pissed. "No, you don't get to tell me anything! I'm not the piece of shit fucking another woman behind his fiancé's back. Don't try and judge me, asshole." Bertrand puts his clothes on quickly and quietly. LaGuerta sits back on the side of the bed, and says through tears, "You don't know the first thing about me." I do wonder when all this began, though.

By Mr. Stupidhead